OF  THE 


UNIVERSITY) 


OF 


's{P'4  /  /POU^^   ^ 


VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 


BY  THE  SAME  AUTHOR 

WITH  ILLUSTRATIONS 


\\oNI)ERS    OK    THE    YELLOWSTONE 
in  Seribn^'t  Magazins 
The   Ascent  ok  Moint  Havden 
in   Scrihn«r's  Magazine 


^:^^ 


VIGILANTE  DAYS 
AND  WAYS 

THE  PIONEERS  OF  THE  ROCKIES 

THE  MAKERS  AND  MAKING  OF  MONTANA 
AND  IDAHO 

By 

Nathaniel  Pitt  Langford 

WITH  PORTRAITS  AND  ILLUSTRATIONS 


CHICAGO 

A.  C.  McCLURG  &  CO. 
1913 


v 


CoPTKKiHT.   IHBO. 

Br  NATHANIKL  I'lTT  LANCKORD. 


AU  BighU  Huervtd. 

COPVRKIHT, 

A.  C.  McCLL'RG  Ac  CO. 


9.  liall  {Irintlit^  CCain)iait(| 


THIS    BOOK    IS    DEDICATED    TO 
THE    MEMORY    OF    THOSE 

iHnknoton  ^ionercs 

WHO    LOST   THEIR    LIVES    IN    LAYING 
THE    FOUNDATIONS    OF    THE 

(Empire 

OF   THE 

^eiD  (great   ^est. 


4128 


"  One  of  the  chief  temptations  of 
the  Devil  is  that  he  can  persuade 
a  man  that  he  can  write  a  book,  by 
xchich  he  can  achieve  both  icealth 
and  fame."  —  Cukvaxtes. 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS 


CHAPTER  PAGE 

IXTRODUCTION xi 

I     Henry  Plummer 19 

II     Society  ix  Lewiston 26 

III      Northern   Mines 34 

IV     Charley  Harper         40 

V     Cherokee  Bob         45 

VI     Florence 53 

IL>VII___  First  Vigilance  Committee      ...  60 

VIII     New  Gold  Discoveries 64 

IX  Desertion  of  Mining  Camps    ...  69 

X     Boone  Helm 74 

XI  Death  of  Charley  Harper     ...  87 

XII  PiNKHAM    AND    PaTTERSON        ....  91 

XIII  Early  Discoveries  of  Gold     ,     .     .  Ill 

XIV  Captain  Fisk's  Expedition        .     .     .  122 
XV     Bannack  in  1862        130 

XVI     IMooRE  AND  Reeves 137 

XVII  Crawford  and  Phleger        ....  148 

XVIII  Broadwater's   Stratagem          .     .     .  163 

-->XIX  Organization  of  the  Roughs       ,     .  171 

XX     A  Masonic  Funeral         181 

XXI     Battle  of  Bear  River 195 

XXII     Aldee  Gulch 206 

•  • 

vu 


Vlil 


CONTENTS 


XXIII  Virginia  City 

XXIV  Coach  Robberies        .     .     . 
XX\'  Leroy  Southmavd 

XXVI  Journey  to  Salt  Lake  City 

XXVII  Col.  Sanders  and  Gallagher 

XXVIII  Robbery  of  Moody's  Train 

XXIX  George  Ives       .... 

XXX  TiUAL  OF  George  Ives 

XXXI  Result  of  Ives's  Execution 

XXXII  Lloyd  Magruder         .     . 

XXXIII  Hill  Beachy     .... 

XXX I\  Howie  and  Fetherstun 

XXXV  Execution  of  Plummer 

XXXVI  Death  of  Pizanthia 

XXXVII  Execution  of  Dutch  John 

XXXVIII  \'ii{GiNiA  City  Executions 

XXXIX  l*uusuiT  OF  Road  Agents 

XL  Execution  of  Hunter     . 

XU  The  Stranger's  Story 

XLII  White  and  Dorsett 

XLIII  Langford  Peel 

XL1\'  Jos K I'll  A.  Slade     . 

XL\'  A  Modern  Haman 

XLVI  . I  AM  IS  Daniels 

XLVII  David  Opdyke    .... 

XLVI  1 1  San  Andreas  in   1H19 

XLIX  An  Interesting  Adventiri: 

L  The  Stage  Coach 

LI  Retrospection 

IHDEX     


ILLUSTRATIONS 


PAGE 

Nathaniel  P.  Langford Frontispiece 

A  PACK  train:  cinching 66 

James  Stuart,  who  set  the  first  sluices  in  Mon- 
tana          112 

Granville  Stuart,  who  set  the  first  sluices  in 

Montana 116 

Captain  James  L.  Fisk,  Commander  of  Northern 

Overland  Expedition 124 

Judge  J.  F.   Hoyt,   Miners'  Judge  at   trial  of 

]MooRE  AND  Reeves 144 

Judge  Walter  B.  Dance,  Miners'  Judge  at  Ban- 

NACK            174 

General  P.  E.  Connor,  Commander  at  Battle  of 

Bear  River 198 

Samuel  T.  Hauser,  Ex-Governor  of  Montana     .  256 
Colonel  Wilbur   F.    Sanders,    principal   prose- 
cutor OF  George  Ives 300 

Hill  Beachy,  Lloyd  Magruder's  avenger        .     .  332 

Neil  Howie,  captor  of  "  Dutch  John  "...  352 

John  Fetherstun,  Overland  express  messenger  358 

A  Vigilante  execution 396 

John  X.  Beidler,  leading  Vigilante  and  express 

messenger         464 


IX 


INTRODUCTION 


IT  is  stated  on  good  authority,  that  soon  after  the 
first  appearance  of  Schiller's  drama  of  "  The  Rob- 
bers "  a  number  of  young  men,  charmed  with  the  char- 
acter of  Charles  De  Moor,  formed  a  band  and  went  to 
the  forests  of  Bohemia  to  engage  in  brigand  life.  I  have 
no  fear  that  such  will  be  the  influence  of  this  volume. 
It  deals  in  facts.  Robber  life  as  delineated  by  the  vivid 
fancy  of  Schiller,  and  robber  life  as  it  existed  in  our 
mining  regions,  were  as  widely  separated  as  fiction  and 
truth.  No  one  can  read  this  record  of  events,  and  es- 
cape the  conviction  that  an  honest,  laborious,  and  well- 
meaning  life,  whether  successful  or  not,  is  preferable 
to  all  the  temporary  enjoyments  of  a  life  of  recklessness 
and  crime.  The  truth  of  the  adage  that  "  Crime  carries 
with  it  its  own  punishment  "  has  never  received  a  more 
powerful  vindication  than  at  the  tribunals  erected  by  the 
people  of  the  northwest  mines  for  their  protection. 
No  sadder  commentary  could  have  stained  our  civilization 
than  to  permit  the  numerous  and  bloody  crimes  com- 
mitted in  the  early  history  of  this  portion  of  our  country 
to  go  unwhipped  of  justice.  And  the  fact  that  they  ' 
were  promptly  and  thoroughly  dealt  with  stands  among 
the  earliest  and  noblest  characteristics  of  a  people  which 
derived  their  ideas  of  right  and  of  self-protection  from  ^^v)u^ 
that  spirit  of  the  law  that  flows  spontaneously  from  our 
free  institutions.  The  people  bore  with  crime  until  pun- 
ishment became  a  duty  and  neglect  a  crime.  Then,  at 
infinite  hazard  of  failure,  they  entered  upon  the  work  of 

xi 


xii  INTRODUCTION 

purgation  with  a  strong  hand  —  and  in  the  briefest  pos- 
sihk'  time  established  the  supremacy  of  hiw.  The  robbers 
and  murderers  of  the  mining  regions,  so  long  defiant  of 
the  claims  of  peace  and  safety,  were  made  to  hold  the 
gibbet  in  greater  terror  there  than  in  any  other  portion 
of  our  country. 

Up  to  this  time,  fear  of  punishment  had  exercised  no 
restraining  influence  on  the  conduct  of  men  who  had 
organized  murder  and  robbery  into  a  steady  pursuit. 
They  hesitated  at  no  atrocity  necessary  to  accomplish 
their  guilty  designs.  Murder  with  them  was  resorted  to 
as  the  most  available  means  of  concealing  robbery,  and 
the  two  crimes  were  generally  coincident.  The  country, 
filled  with  canons,  gulches,  and  mountain  passes,  was 
especially  adapted  to  their  purposes,  and  the  unpeopled 
distances  between  mining  camps  afforded  ample  oppor- 
tunity for  carrying  them  into  execution.  Pack  trains 
and  companies,  stage  coaches  and  express  messengers, 
were  as  much  exposed  as  the  solitary  traveller,  and  often 
selected  as  objects  of  attack.  Miners,  who  had  spent 
months  of  hard  labor  in  the  placers  in  the  accumulation 
of  a  few  hundreds  of  dollars,  were  never  heard  of  after 
they  left  the  mines  to  return  to  their  distant  homes. 
Men  were  daily  and  nightly  robbed  and  nnirdered  in  the 
camps.  There  was  no  limit  to  this  system  of  organized 
brigandage. 

When  not  engaged  in  robbery,  this  criminal  population 
followed  other  disreputable  pursuits.  Gambling  and  li- 
centiousness were  the  most  conspicuous  features  of  every 
mining  camp,  and  both  were  but  other  species  of  robbery. 
Worthless  women  taken  from  the  stews  of  cities  plied  their 
vocation  in  open  day,  and  their  bagnios  were  the  lures 
where  many  men  were  entrapped  for  robbery  and  slaugh- 
ter. Dance-houses  sprung  up  as  if  by  enchantment,  and 
every   one   who   sought    an    evening's    recreation    In    them 


INTRODUCTION  xiii 

was  in  sonic  way  relieved  of  the  money  he  took  there. 
Many  good  men  who  dared  to  give  expression  to  the 
feelings  of  horror  and  disgust  which  these  exhibitions  in- 
spired, were  shot  down  by  some  member  of  the  gang  on 
the  first  opportunity.  For  a  long  time  these  acts  were 
unnoticed,  for  the  reason  that  the  friends  of  law  and 
order  supposed  the  power  of  evil  to  be  in  the  ascendant. 
Encouraged  by  this  impunity  the  ruffian  power  increased 
in  audacity,  and  gave  utterance  to  threats  against  all 
that  portion  of  the  community  which  did  not  belong  to 
its  organization.  An  issue  involving  the  destruction  of 
the  good  or  bad  element  actually  existed  at  the  time  that 
the  people  entered  upon  the  work  of  punishment. 

I  offer  these  remarks,  not  in  vindication  of  all  the  acts 
of  the  Vigilantes,  but  of  so  many  of  them  as  were  neces- 
sary to  establish  the  safety  and  protection  of  the  people. 
The  reader  will  find  among  the  later  acts  of  some  of  the 
individuals  claiming  to  have  exercised  the  authority  of 
the  Vigilantes,  some  executions  of  which  he  cannot  ap- 
prove. For  these  persons  I  can  offer  no  apology.  Many 
of  these  were  worse  men  than  those  they  executed.  Some 
were  hasty  and  inconsiderate,  and  while  firm  in  the  belief 
they  were  doing  right,  actually  committed  grievous  of- 
fences. Unhappily  for  the  Vigilantes,  the  acts  of  these 
men  have  been  recalled  to  justify  an  opinion  abroad,  prej- 
udicial to  the  Vigilante  organization.  Nothing  could  be 
more  unjust.  The  early  Vigilantes  were  the  best  and 
most  intelligent  men  in  the  mining  regions.  They  saw 
and  felt  that,  in  the  absence  of  all  law,  they  must  become 
a  "  law  unto  themselves,"  or  submit  to  the  bloody  code 
of  the  banditti  by  which  they  were  surrounded,  and  which 
were  increasing  in  numbers  more  rapidly  than  themselves. 
Each  man  among  them  realized  from  the  first  the  great 
delicacy  and  care  necessary  in  the  management  of  a  so- 
ciety which   assumed  the   right  to  condemn   to  death   a 


XIV  INTRODUCTION 

fellow-man,  and  they  now  refer  to  the  history  of  all 
those  men  who  suffered  death  by  their  decree  as  affording 
ample  justification  for  the  severity  of  their  acts.  What 
else  could  they  do?  How  else  were  their  own  lives  and 
property,  and  the  lives  and  property  of  the  great  body 
of  peaceable  miners  in  the  placers  to  be  preserved?  What 
other  protection  was  there  for  a  country  entirely  desti- 
tute of  law? 

Let  those  who  would  condemn  these  men  try  to  realize 
how  they  would  act  under  similar  circumstances,  and  they 
will  soon  find  everything  to  approve  and  nothing  to  con- 
demn in  the  transactions  of  the  early  Vigilantes.  I  have 
endeavored  to  narrate  nothing  but  facts,  and  these  will 
enable  every  reader  to  judge  correctly  of  the  merits  of 
each  case. 

I  would  fain  believe  that  this  history,  bloody  as  it  is, 
will  prove  both  interesting  and  instructive.  In  all  that 
concerns  crime  of  the  blackest  dye  on  the  one  hand,  and 
love  for  law  and  order  on  the  other,  it  stands  without  a 
parallel  in  the  annals  of  any  people.  Nowhere  else,  nor 
at  any  former  period  since  men  became  civilized,  have 
murder  and  robbery  and  social  vice  presented  an  organ- 
ized front,  and  offered  an  open  contest  for  supremacy  to 
a  large  civilized  community.  Their  works  for  centuries 
have  been  done  by  stealth,  in  darkness,  and  as  far  away 
from  society  as  possible.  I  cannot  now  remember  the 
instance,  within  the  past  three  hundred  years,  when 
the  history  of  any  country  records  the  fact  that  the  crim- 
inal clement  of  an  entire  community,  numbering  thou- 
sands, was  believed  to  be  greater  than  the  peaceful  element. 
Yet  it  was  so  here.  And  when  the  Vigilantes  of  Montana 
entered  upon  their  work,  they  did  not  know  how  soon 
they  might  have  to  encounter  a  force  numerically  greater 
than  their  own. 

In  my  view  the   moral  of  this  history   is   a   good   one. 


INTRODUCTION 


XV 


The  brave  and  faithful  conduct  of  the  Vigilantes  furnishes  [A 
an  example  of  American  character,  from  a  point  of  view; ' ; 
entirely  new.      We  know  what  our  countrymen  were  ca-'  •  i 
pable  of  doing  when  exposed  to  Indian  massacre.    We  have 
read  history  after  history  recording  the  sufferings  of  early 
pioneers  in   the  East,   South,  and  West,  but  what   they 
would  do  when  surrounded  by  robbers  and  assassins,  who 
were  in  all  civil  aspects  like  themselves,  it  has   remained 
for  the  first  settlers   of  the   northwestern   mines   to   tell. 
And  that  they  did  their  work  well,  and  showed  in  every  act 
a  love  for  law,  order,  and  for  the  moral  and  social  vir- 
tues in  which  they  had  been  educated,  and  a  regard  for 
our  free  institutions,  no  one  can  doubt  who  rightly  ap- 
preciates the  motives  which  actuated  them. 

A  people  who  had  not  been  reared  to  respect  law  and 
order,  and  to  regard  the  privileges  which  flow  from  a  free 
government  as  greater  than  all  others,  in  the  regulation 
of  society,  would  have  been  restrained  by  fear  from  any 
such  united  and  thorough  effort  as  that  which  in  Mon- 
tana actually  scourged  crime  out  of  existence,  and 
secured  to  an  unorganized  community  all  the  immunities 
and  blessings  of  good  government.  The  terror  which 
popular  justice  inspired  in  the  criminal  population  has 
never  been  forgotten.  To  this  day  crime  has  been  less 
frequent  in  occurrence  in  Montana  than  in  any  other  of 
the  new  Territories,  and  no  banded  criminals  have  made 
that  Territory  an  abiding  place. 

Although  not  the  first  exhibition  of  Vigilante  justice, 
the  one  I  here  record  was  the  most  thorough  and  severe, 
and  stands  as  an  example  for  all  new  settlements  that  in 
the  future  may  be  similarly  afflicted,  for  it  was  not  until 
driven  to  it  both  by  the  frequent  and  unremitting  villainies 
of  the  ruffians,  and  by  the  necessities  of  a  condition  for 
which  there  was  no  law  in  existence,  that  the  people  re- 
sorted to  measures  of  their  own,  and  made  and  enforced 


xvi  IXTHODUCTION 

laws  suited  to  the  exigency.  But  enough!  If  the  history 
fails  to  remove  the  prejudices  of  my  readers,  nothing 
I  can  say  will  do  so.  It  speaks  for  itself,  and  thougli 
there  are  a  few  of  its  later  occurrences  I  would  gladly 
blot,  there  is  nothing  in  its  early  transactions,  nothing  in 
the  design  it  uii folds,  nothing  in  the  results  which  have 
followed,  that  on  a  similar  occasion  I  would  not  wish  to 
see  reproduced. 


VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 


VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND 
WAYS 


CHAPTER  I 
HENRY  PLUMMER 

THE  Snake  River  or  Lewis  fork  of  the  Columbia  takes 
its  rise  in  a  small  lake  which  is  separated  by  the 
main  range  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  from  the  large  lakes 
of  the  Yellowstone,  that  being  less  than  twenty  miles  dis- 
tant from  it.  The  Yellowstone,  the  Madison,  Jefferson 
and  Gallatin,  forming  the  head  waters  of  the  Missouri, 
and  the  Snake,  the  largest  tributary  fork  of  the  Colum- 
bia, all  rise  within  or  near  the  limits  of  the  territory  re- 
cently dedicated  by  the  Government  to  the  purpose  of  a 
National  Pai'k. 

As  contrasted  with  the  large  rivers  of  regions  other 
than  the  one  it  traverses,  the  Snake  River  would  be  a  very 
remarkable  stream,  but  there,  where  everything  in  nature 
is  wonderful,  it  is  simply  one  of  the  marked  features  in  its 
physical  geography.  From  its  source  to  its  junction  with 
the  Clarke  fork  of  the  Columbia,  a  distance  of  nine  hun- 
dred miles,  it  flows  through  a  region  which,  at  some  re- 
mote period,  has  been  the  scene  of  greater  volcanic  action 
than  any  other  portion  of  North  America.  Unlike  other 
streams,  which  are  formed  by  rivulets  and  springs,  this 
river  is  scarcely  less  formidable  in  its  appearance  at  its 
commencement  than  at  its  termination.  It  leaps  into 
rapids  from  the  moment  of  its  exit,  and  its  waters,  black- 

19 


20     VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

encd  by  the  Ijasultic  bed  tlirough  wliicli  it  flows,  roar  and 
fret,  and  lash  the  sides  of  the  gloomy  canon  which  it  en- 
ters, presenting  a  scene  of  tumult  and  fury,  that  extends 
far  beyond  the  limits  of  vision.  This  initiatory  charac- 
ter it  maintains,  alternated  with  occasional  reaches  of 
(juiet  large  expansions,  and  narrow  contractions,  fearful 
and  tremendous  cataracts,  to  its  debouchure  into  the  Co- 
lumbia. Its  channel  and  its  course,  alike  sinuous,  have 
obtained  for  it  its  name.  Navigation  is  impeded  by  rea- 
son of  fearful  rapids,  every  few  miles  of  the  first  five  hun- 
dred after  leaving  the  lake.  The  shores  for  most  of  the 
distance  are  barren  rock,  always  precipitous,  often  inac- 
cessible from  the  river,  and  frequently  engorged  by  lofty 
mountains  and  rocky  canons  which  shut  its  inky  surface 
from  the  light  of  day.  The  scenery,  though  on  the  most 
tremendous  scale,  is  savage,  unattractive,  and  friglitful. 
Its  waters  lash  the  base  of  the  three  Tetons,  so  celebrated 
as  the  great  landmarks  of  this  portion  of  the  continent. 
As  they  approach  the  Columbia  they  break  into  frequent 
cataracts,  th*  largest  of  which,  the  great  Shoshone  Fall, 
with  a  perpendicular  descent  of  two  lumdred  and  fifty  feet, 
prusents  many  points  of  singular  interest. 

On  the  river,  twelve  miles  above  its  mouth,  at  a  point 
accessible  from  the  Columbia  by  small  steamboats,  stands 
the  little  village  of  I^wiston,  which,  at  the  time  of  which 
I  write,  was  the  capital  of  all  the  vast  Territory  that  had 
been  just  organized  under  the  euphonic  name  of  Idaho. 
This  Territory  then  included  Montana  and  Wyoming, 
wliich  had  not  been  orgaTiized.  Lcwiston,  being  the  near- 
est accessibK>  point  by  water  to  the  recently  discovered  gold 
placers  of  Klk  City,  Oro  Fino,  Florence,  and  Warner 
Creek,  grew  with  the  rapidity  known  only  to  mining  towns 
into  an  emporium.  In  less  than  three  months  from  the 
time  the  first  immigrants  commenced  to  establish  a  settle- 
ment there,  several  streets  of  more  than  a  mile  in  length 


HENRY  PLUMMER  21 

were  laid  out,  thickly  covered  on  either  side  with  dwell- 
ings, stores,  hotels,  and  saloons,  chiefly  constructed  of 
coninion  factory  cotton.  A  tenement  of  this  kind  could 
be  extemporized  in  a  few  hours.  The  frame  was  of  light 
scantling  or  poles,  and  the  cloth  in  most  cases  fastened 
to  it  with  tacks.  Seen  from  a  distance,  the  town  had  the 
appearance  of  being  built  of  white  marble,  but  truly 

"  'T  is  distance  lends  enchantment  to  the  view/' 

for  upon  entering  it  the  fragility  of  the  material  soon  dis- 
abused the  vision  and  the  admiration  of  the  beholder.  At 
night,  when  lights  were  burning  in  these  frail  tenements, 
a  stranger  would  think  the  town  illuminated.  The  number 
of  drinking  and  gambling  saloons  was  greatly  in  excess  of 
stores  and  private  dwellings,  and  to  nearly  all  of  these 
was  attached  that  most  important  attraction  of  a  mining 
town,  the  hurdy-gurdy.  The  sound  of  the  violin  which 
struck  the  ear  on  entering  the  street,  was  never  lost  while 
passing  through  it,  and  at  many  of  the  saloons  the  evi- 
dence of  the  bacchanal  orgies  which  were  in  progress  in- 
side was  often  apparent  in  the  eagerness  exhibited  by  the 
crowd  which  surrounded  the  building  without.  The  voices 
of  auctioneers  on  the  street  corners,  the  shouts  of  frequent 
horsemen  as  they  rode  up  and  down  the  streets,  the  rat- 
tle of  vehicles  arriving  and  departing  for  the  miners' 
camps,  troops  of  miners,  Indians,  gamblers,  the  unmean- 
ing babble  of  numerous  drunken  men,  the  tawdrily  ap- 
parelled dancing  women  of  the  hurdy-gurdys,  altogether 
presented  a  scene  of  life  in  an  entirely  new  aspect  to  the 
person  who  for  the  first  time  entered  a  mining  town.  It  is 
a  feature  of  modern  civilization  which  cannot  elsewhere  be 
found,  search  the  whole  world  over.  The  thirst  for  gold 
is  shared  by  all  classes.  Those  who  are  unwilling  to  labor, 
in  their  efforts  to  obtain  it  by  less  honorable  means,  flock 
to  the  mines  to  ply  their  guilty  vocations.     Hence  there  is 


22     VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

no  vice  unrepresented  in  a  mining  camp,  and  no  type  or 
shade  of  cliaruetcr  in  civilized  society  that  is  not  there  pub- 
licly developed.  The  misfortune  is,  as  a  general  thing, 
that  the  worst  elements,  being  most  popular,  generally 
{)rej)onderate. 

Our  Civil  War  was  raging  at  the  time  that  Lewiston  be- 
came a  mining  emporium.  Sympathizers  with  each  party 
fled  to  the  mines,  to  escape  the  possible  responsibilities  they 
might  incur  by  remaining  in  the  States.  They  carried 
their  political  views  with  them,  and  identified  themselves 
with  those  portions  of  society  which  reflected  their  re- 
spective attachments.  Loyalty  and  Secession  each  flour- 
ished by  turn,  and  were  the  prolific  causes  of  frequent 
bloody  dissensions.  There  was  no  law  to  restrain  human 
passion,  so  that  each  man  was  a  law  unto  himself,  accord- 
ing as  he  was  swayed  by  the  evil  or  good  of  his  own  na- 
ture. The  temptations  to  evil,  not  so  numerous,  were  nmch 
more  powerful  than  were  ever  before  presented  to  a  great 
majority  of  the  immigrants.  Gambling  and  drinking  were 
made  attractive  by  the  presence  of  debased  women,  who 
lured  to  their  ruin  all  who,  fortunate  in  the  possession  of 
gold,  could  not  witlistand  their  varied  devices. 

In  the  Spring  of  18(51,  among  the  daily  arrivals  at  Lew- 
iston, was  a  man  of  gentlemanly  bearing  and  dignified  de- 
portment, accompanied  by  a  woman,  to  all  appearance  his 
wife.  He  took  <juarters  at  the  best  hotel  in  town.  Be- 
fore the  close  of  the  second  day  after  his  arrival  his  char- 
acter as  a  gambler  was  fully  understood,  and  in  less  than 
a  fortnight  his  abandoium-nt  of  his  female  companion  be- 
trayed the  illicit  connection  which  had  existed  between  them. 
Alone,  among  strangers,  destitute,  the  poor  woman  told 
how  she  had  been  beguiled,  by  the  promises  of  this  man, 
from  home  and  family,  and  induced  to  link  herself  with 
his  fortunes.  A  fond  husband  and  three  helpless  chil- 
dren niounud  her  loss  bv  a  visitation  worse  than  death. 


HENRY  PLUMMER  23 

Lacking  moral  courage  to  return  to  her  heart-broken  hus- 
band and  ask  forgiveness,  she  sought  to  drown  her  sorrow 
by  plunging  still  deeper  into  the  abyss  of  shame  and  ruin. 
Soon,  alas !  she  became  one  of  the  lowest  inmates  of  a  fron- 
tier brothel.  This  latest  crime  of  Henry  Plummer  was 
soon  forgotten,  or  remembered  only  as  one  of  many  sim- 
ilar events  Avhich  occut  in  mining  camps. 

He,  meanwhile,  in  the  pursuit  of  his  profession  as  a 
gambler,  formed  the  acquaintance  of  many  congenial 
spirits.  From  their  subsequent  operations  it  was  also  ap- 
parent that  at  his  instigation  an  alliance  was  formed  with 
them  which  had  for  its  object  the  attainment  of  fortune  by 
the  most  desperate  means.  Every  fortunate  man  in  any 
of  the  mining  camps  was  marked  as  the  prey,  sooner  or 
later,  of  this  abandoned  combination.  Every  gambler  or 
rough  infesting  the  camp,  either  voluntarily  or  by  threats 
was  induced  to  unite  in  the  enterprise ;  and  thus  originated 
the  band  of  desperadoes  which,  for  the  succeeding  two 
years,  by  their  fearful  atrocities,  spread  such  terror 
through  the  northern  mines.  Plummer  was  their  acknowl- 
edged leader. 

Professional  gamblers  everywhere,  in  a  new  country, 
form  a  community  by  themselves.  They  have  few  inti- 
mates outside  of  their  own  number.  A  sort  of  tacit  under- 
standing among  them  links  them  together  by  certain 
implied  rules  and  regulations,  which  they  readily  obey.  Of 
the  same  nature,  we  may  suppose,  was  the  bond  which 
united  Plummer  and  his  associates  in  their  infernal  de- 
signs of  plunder  and  butchery.  The  honor  which  thieves 
accord  each  other,  the  prospect  of  unlimited  reward  for 
their  vicious  deeds,  and  the  certainty  of  condign  punish- 
ment for  any  act  of  treachery,  secured  the  band  and  its 
purposes  against  any  betrayal  b}'  its  members. 

Nowhere  are  the  conventionalities  of  social  life  sooner 
abandoned  than  in  a  mining  camp.     To  call  a  man  by  his 


24     VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

proper  name  there  generally  implies  that  he  is  either  a 
struiigcr  or  one  with  whom  you  do  not  care  to  make 
acquaintance.  The  gamblers  were  generally  known  by 
diminutive  surnames  or  appellations  significant  of  their 
characters.  I  shall  so  designate  those  of  them  who  were 
thus  known,  in  this  narrative. 

Prominent  among  the  associates  of  Plummer  at  Lewis- 
ton  were  Jack  Cleveland,  Cherokee  Bob,  and  Bill  Bunton. 
Cleveland  was  an  old  California  acquaintance,  familiar 
with  Plummer's  early  history.  He  used  this  fatal  knowl- 
edge, as  it  afterwards  proved,  in  a  dictatorial  and  offensive 
manner,  often  presuming  upon  it  to  arrogate  a  position 
in  the  band  which  by  common  consent  was  assigned  to 
IMuininer. 

Cherokee  Bob  was  a  native  Georgian,  and  received  his 
name  from  the  fact  that  he  was  a  quarter-blood  Indian. 
He  was  bitter  in  his  hatred  of  the  loyal  cause  and  all  en- 
gaged in  it.  Before  he  came  to  Lewiston  he  had,  in  an 
affray  of  his  own  plotting,  killed  two  or  three  soldiers  in 
the  Walla  Walla  theatre.  He  fled  to  Lewiston  to  escape 
the  vengeance  of  their  comrades. 

Bill  Bunton  was  a  double-d^ed  murderer  and  notorious 
horse  and  cattle  thief.  He  had  killed  a  man  at  a  ball  near 
Walla  Walla,  was  tried  for  nnirder,  and  acquitted  on  in- 
sufficient evidence.  He  afterwards  killed  his  brother-in- 
law,  and  in  cold  blood  soon  after  shot  down  an  Indian, 
and  escaped  the  clutches  of  the  law  by  flight.  Possessing 
himself  of  a  ranche  on  Pataha  Creek,  he  lived  there  with 
his  Indian  wife,  imder  the  pretext  of  farming.  It  was  soon 
ascertjiined,  however,  that  his  business  was  secreting  and 
selling  stolen  stock.  The  officers  made  a  dash  upon  his 
ranche,  but  the  bird  had  again  flown.  Soon  afterward,  dis- 
guised in  the  blanket  and  paint  of  an  Indian,  he  entered 
Lewiston,  and  lounged  about  the  streets  for  several  days 


HENRY  PLUMMER  25 

witlioiit  exciting  suspicion.     During  this  time  he  became 
a  member  of  Plummer's  nmrderous  band. 

Tlierc  were  several  others  whose  names  are  unknown, 
that  entered  into  the  combination  formed  for  systematized 
robbery  and  murder  at  this  time.  Around  this  nucleus  a 
large  number  of  desperate  men  afterwards  gathered.  They 
became  so  formidable  in  numbers,  and  their  deeds  of  blood 
were  so  frequent  and  daring,  that  the  mining  camps  were 
awed  by  them  into  tacit  submission,  and  witnessed  with- 
out even  remonstrance  the  perpetration  of  murders  and 
robberies  in  their  very  midst,  of  the  most  revolting  char- 
acter. 


CHAPTER  II 

SOCIETY  IN  LEWISTOX 

TOWARDS  the  close  of  the  Summer  of  1862,  the  band 
organized  by  Plununer  having  increased  in  numbers, 
he  selected  two  points  of  rendezvous,  as  bases  for  their 
operations.  These  were  called  "  shebangs."  They  were 
enclosed  by  mountains,  whose  rugged  fastnesses  were  avail- 
able for  refuge  in  case  of  attack. 

One  was  located  between  Alpwai  and  Pataha  creeks, 
on  the  road  from  I-.ewiston  to  Walla  Walla,  about 
twenty-five  miles  from  the  former,  and  the  other  at  the 
foot  of  Craig's  Mountain,  between  Lewiston  and  Oro 
Fino,  at  a  point  where  the  main  road  was  intersected  by 
a  trail  for  pack  animals.  The  location  of  the  latter  was 
upon  ground  reserved  by  treaty  to  the  Xez  Perces  In- 
dians, and  near  a  military  post  established  for  its  protec- 
tion. The  chief  of  the  tribe  complained  to  the  resident 
agent  of  the  Indians,  of  the  aggression.  He  laid  the  com- 
plaint before  the  commandant  of  the  post,  who  treated  it 
with  neglect.  The  robbers  occupied  the  spot  without  mo- 
lestation, and  when  they  abandoned  it,  it  was  of  their  own 
accord. 

There  Were  several  smaller  stations  nearer  to  Wall  i 
Walla  and  Lewiston,  which  were  occupied  only  as  occa- 
sion might  require.  A  close  communication  was  established 
between  these  U)calities,  by  which  the  operations  of  each 
were  speedily  known  to  all.  Plummer,  meantime,  while 
secretly  directing  the  affairs  of  the  shebangs  and  issuing 
orders    continually    to    the    men,    contrived    to    ward    off 

26 


SOCIETY  IN  LEWISTON  27 

suspicion  from  himself,  and  preserve  the  appearance  of  a 
harmless  and  inoffensive  citizen  of  Lewiston.  His  notoriety 
as  a  gambler  was  shared  by  so  many  better  men,  and  by  a 
great  majority  of  the  miners  themselves,  that  it  really  pro- 
tected him  in  his  character  as  a  robber.  While,  therefore, 
he  was  prying  into  the  financial  condition  of  those  with 
whom  his  profession  brought  him  in  daily  contact  in  town, 
he  was  at  the  same  time  informing  his  confederates  at  the 
shebangs  of  every  departure  which  boded  success  to  their 
enterprise. 

Such  of  the  population  as  were  not,  to  a  greater  or  less 
degree,  involved  in  the  gambling  operations  of  the  com- 
munity, although  perfectly  cognizant  of  the  designs  of  the 
robbers,  were  too  insignificant  in  numbers  to  offer  any  ac- 
tive opposition.  Being  without  organization,  they  hardly 
knew  each  other.  Such  was  the  state  of  feeling  that,  if 
a  gambler  or  rough  desired  to  possess  any  of  the  articles 
on  sale  by  merchants  or  grocers,  he  entered  a  store,  se- 
lected for  himself  the  best  the  assortment  afforded,  and 
took  it  away  with  a  request  that  it  should  be  charged,  or 
stated  that  some  day  when  he  was  in  luck  he  would  pay  for 
it.  Rather  than  risk  an  affray,  the  dealer  submitted  to 
the  imposition.  Payment  was  generally  made,  the  gam- 
blers entertaining,  among  themselves,  a  standard  of  honor 
in  such  matters  which  it  was  considered  disgraceful  to 
violate. 

The  two  roads  upon  which  the  shebangs  were  located 
were  the  only  thoroughfares  in  the  country,  and  not  a  day 
passed  that  they  were  not  traversed  by  people  in  going  to 
and  returning  from  the  interior  mining  camps,  and  in  com- 
ing into  and  departing  from  the  country.  The  number  of 
robberies  and  murders  committed  by  the  banditti  will  never 
be  known.  Mysterious  disappearances  soon  became  of  al- 
most weekly  occurrence.  The  danger  which  every  man 
incurred  of  being  robbed  or  killed  was  demonstrated  by 


28     VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

numerous  escapes  made  by  horsemen  who  liad  been  as- 
saulted and  fired  upon,  and  escaped  by  the  fleetness  of  their 
horses.  It  was  fully  understood  that  whoever  passed  over 
either  of  these  roads  would  have  to  run  the  gantlet  in 
the  neighborhood  of  the  shebangs,  and  people  generally 
went  prepared.  Crime  was  fearfully  on  the  increase  all 
through  the  secluded  districts  which  separated  the  river 
from  the  distant  mining  camps.  The  country  itself,  about 
equally  made  up  of  mountains,  foothills,  canons,  dense  pine 
forests,  lava  beds,  and  deep  river-channels,  was  as  favor- 
able for  the  commission  of  crime  as  for  the  concealment  of 
its  perpetrators. 

The  two  shebangs  swarmed  with  ruffians.  On  one  oc- 
casion a  party  of  half  a  dozen,  while  riding  in  the  vicinity 
of  Craig's  Mountain,  were  stopped  by  a  volley  from  the 
shebang,  which,  being  harmless,  was  returned.  A  number 
of  well-mounted  robbers  started  in  pursuit.  The  party 
escaped  by  hard  spurring,  one  of  the  number,  to  lighten 
his  burden,  throwing  several  large  bags  of  gold  dust  into 
the  grass.  They  were  afterwards  recovered.  A  butcher 
i)y  the  name  of  Harkness,  of  Oro  Fino,  was  also  assaulted, 
and  fired  upon,  who  owed  his  deliverance  to  the  fleetness  of 
his  horse.  Owners  of  pack  trains  never  attempted  to  pass 
without  force  sufficient  to  intimidate  the  robbers. 

The  other  shebang  was  used  as  a  receptacle  for  stolen 
horses.  It  was  under  the  superintendence  of  a  noted  horse- 
thief  by  the  name  of  Turner,  who  had  been  a  partner  in 
the  business  with  IJill  Hunton.  Any  member  of  the  band, 
whose  claim  to  recognition  was  founded  upon  success  in 
any  thieving  or  bloody  enterprise,  could  leave  his  jaded 
steed  here  in  exchange  for  a  fresh  one.  A  single  incident 
will  illustrate  the  manner  in  which  many  of  the  horses  were 
obtained.  A  gentleman  riding  a  beautiful  young  mare,  on 
his  way  from  Oregon  to  Oro  Fino,  while  she  was  drinking 
from  the  stream  near  bv,  was  suddenly  confronted  bv  a 


SOCIETY  IN  LEWISTON  29 

man,  who  claimed  her  as  his  property.  Several  persons 
were  witnesses  to  the  meeting.  Drawing  a  bill  of  sale  of 
the  mare,  from  his  pocket,  which  he  had  obtained  live  hun- 
dred miles  away,  he  dismounted,  and  was  about  to  prove 
his  ownership,  when  the  ruffian  jumped  into  the  saddle, 
and,  seizing  the  bridle,  rode  rapidly  away.  The  wayfarer 
called  upon  the  by-standers  to  assist  in  the  recapture  of 
the  animal,  instead  of  which  they  knocked  him  down, 
stripped  him  of  everything  in  his  pockets,  and  told  him 
to  leave.     He  entered  Lewlston  utterly  destitute. 

No  occupation  in  the  northern  mines  tested  the  courage 
and  honesty  of  men  more  severely  than  that  of  the  Express 
riders.  Their  duties,  in  riding  from  camp  to  camp,  fre- 
quently for  hundreds  of  miles,  where  there  was  not  a  dwell- 
ing, carr^'ing  large  amounts  of  treasure,  made  them 
objects  of  frequent  attack.  Tried  men  were  selected  for  this 
business  —  men  as  well  known  for  personal  bravery  as  for 
their  adroitness  in  the  use  of  weapons  in  personal  en- 
counter. The  notoriety  of  this  class  was  sufficient  as  a 
general  thing  to  protect  them  from  attack,  unless  it  could 
be  made  under  every  possible  advantage.  It  is  a  remark- 
able fact,  and  speaks  as  little  in  favor  of  the  courage  of 
the  desperadoes  as  in  praise  of  the  daring  nobility  of  these 
early  Express  riders,  that  few  of  the  latter  were  inter- 
rupted in  the  discharge  of  their  dangerous  duties.  They 
were  ever  upon  the  alert.  It  was  the  work  of  an  instant 
only,  when  attacked,  for  them  to  draw  and  discharge  their 
revolvers,  with  deadly  effect,  and  follow  up  the  smallest 
advantage  with  the  no  less  fatal  bowie-knife.  One  man 
has  been  known  in  an  encounter  of  this  kind  to  kill  four 
assailants  and  escape  unharmed. 

Tracy  &  Co.,  of  Lewlston,  had  a  pony  express  route 
from  that  town  to  Salmon  River,  a  distance  of  seventy-five 
miles.  Their  messenger,  whom  we  only  know  by  the  name 
of  Mose,  was  a  man  of  great  intrepidity,  and  perfectly 


30     VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

familiar  with  all  the  risks  of  his  business.  In  single  en- 
counter he  was  understood  to  be  more  than  a  matcii  for 
any  man  in  the  mountains.  Some  time  in  the  early  Fall 
of  1862  a  plan  was  laid  by  Plummer  and  his  associates  to 
capture  Mose.  The  place  selected  for  the  purpose  was 
the  trail  crossing  of  White  Bird  Creek,  at  a  distance  of 
sixty  miles  from  Lewiston  and  eighteen  from  Salmon 
River.  At  this  point  the  creek  runs  between  very  abrupt 
banks  densely  covered  with  cottonwoods,  rendering  both 
descent  and  ascent  tedious  and  difficult.  The  robbers,  in 
anticipation  of  the  arrival  of  Mose,  as  usual  on  a  keen 
lope,  after  darkness  had  set  in  had  felled  a  tree  across  the 
trail  at  a  sufficient  height  to  admit  the  passage  of  the 
horse,  and  at  the  same  time  strike  the  rider  in  the  chest, 
and  throw  him  suddenly  from  the  saddle.  They  then  in- 
tended to  kill  him  and  rob  his  cantinas,  which  it  was  sup- 
posed would  contain  several  thousand  dollars  in  gold  dust. 
At  Chapman's  ranche,  near  the  crossing,  Mose  was  told 
that  several  suspicious  characters  had  been  prowling  in 
the  neiglihorhood  during  the  afternoon,  and  with  that  keen 
sense  which  had  been  educated  to  scent  danger  from  afar, 
he  at  once  comprehended  the  whole  plot.  Carefully  de- 
scending the  bank,  he  discovered  the  snare,  and  turning 
to  the  left  avoided  it,  hurried  through  the  creek,  and  as- 
cending the  opposite  bank  cast  a  look  of  derision  back  upon 
the  foiled  highwaymen.  This  fearless  messenger  contin- 
ued in  service  long  after  this  event,  but  his  future  trips 
were  made  under  the  escort  of  well-armed  assistants. 

Winters  are  nowhere  more  dreary  than  among  the 
miners.  Frost  and  snow  bring  their  labors  to  an  end,  and 
for  three  or  four  months  they  either  remain  in  their  camps 
in  a  state  of  listless  inactivity,  or  seek  for  occupation  and 
enjoyment  in  the  excesses  of  the  nearest  populous  settle- 
ment. Hundreds  of  them  actually  scjuander  during  the 
season  of  winter  all  tliat  fliev  have  obtained  bv  the  most 


SOCIETY  IN  LEWISTON  31 

severe  toil  during  the  rest  of  the  year.  With  tlic  terrible 
example  before  him,  he  must  be  a  man  of  resolute  will  who 
can  long  refrain  from  embracing  vice  in  all  its  forms. 

Gambling  becomes  a  favorite  occupation,  and  whiskey 
a  common  beverage.  The  society  of  abandoned  women 
lures  him  on,  until  every  moral,  social,  and  virtuous  reso- 
lution is  broken  down,  and  the  experience  of  a  few  months 
of  such  a  life  wholly  unfits  him  for  a  return  to  his  earlier 
pursuits.  This  is  the  experience  of  three-fourths  of  the 
young  men  who  seek  for  fortune  among  the  gold  mines. 
Most  of  this  class  who  had  been  occupied  in  placer  digging 
during  the  summer  and  fall,  at  the  first  approach  of  cold 
forsook  their  mines,  and  crowded  into  Lewiston  to  spend 
the  winter,  bringing  with  them  the  hard  earnings  of  their 
toil.  Following  in  their  wake  came  the  professional  gam- 
blers and  sports,  and,  mingling  with  the  common  mass, 
were  the  wretches  who  had  reached  the  lowest  depths  of 
human  depravity.  A  letter  from  one  of  the  early  settlers 
of  Lewiston,  written  at  the  time,  says :  "  Late  in  1862  a 
large  number  congregated  here  to  pass  the  winter.  About 
seventy-five  per  cent  of  these  were  cut-throats,  robbers, 
gamblers,  and  escaped  convicts.  Honest  men  were  in  a 
fearful  minority,  and  dared  not  lisp  of  the  arrest  and  pun- 
ishment of  criminals ;  the  villains  had  their  own  way  in 
everything." 

I  record  the  following  as  an  incident  which  will  better 
illustrate  the  condition  of  society  than  anything  I  can 
write.  A  gambler  named  Kirby  borrowed  of  another  a 
revolver.  Secretly  withdrawing  the  charges  from  it,  an 
hour  later  he  returned  it,  and  requested  the  owner  to  lend 
him  a  few  ounces  of  gold  dust,  which  request  was  declined. 
Knowing  that  he  had  the  money,  Kirby,  enraged  at  the  re- 
fusal, put  the  muzzle  of  a  loaded  revolver  to  the  temple 
of  the  other,  and  blew  out  his  brains.  No  arrest  was  at- 
tempted.    The  cold-blooded,  mid-day  murderer  walked  the 


32     VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

streets  of  tlie  town  during  the  entire  winter,  mingled  in 
the  sports,  and  escaped  unwhipped  of  justice.  Three  years 
afterward  he  was  arrested  in  Oregon,  and  turned  over  to 
the  Idaho  autliorities,  upon  the  requisition  of  Governor 
Lyon,  but  no  witnesses  appearing  against  liini  he  was  suf- 
fered to  go  at  hirgc. 

In  a  state  of  society  where  the  majority  of  the  people 
depend  upon  vicious  pursuits  for  a  livelihood,  want  and 
destitution  are  the  natural  elements.  Increase  of  crime  in 
all  its  forms  follows.  All  through  the  Winter  of  1861-62, 
and  until  returns  began  to  come  in  from  the  mines  the 
following  Spring,  Lewiston  was  daily  and  nightly  a  theatre 
where  the  entire  calendar  of  crime  was  exhibited  in  epi- 
tome. Murders  were  frequent;  robberies  and  thefts  con- 
stant; gambling,  debauchery,  drunkenness,  and  all  their 
attendant  evils,  openly  flaunted  in  the  face  of  day  in 
defiance  of  law.  Mone}'  and  food  were  so  scarce  that  rob- 
bery with  the  sporting  community  became  an  actual  nec- 
essity. How  to  protect  themselves  against  it  sorely  taxed 
the  wit  and  tried  the  courage  of  the  unfortunate  property 
holders.  Canvas  walls  offered  slight  resistance  to  de- 
termined thieves,  and  life  was  not  protected  by  them  from 
murderous  bullets.  An  exemplification  is  furnished  in  the 
following  incident : 

A  (lernian  named  Ililtebrant  kept  a  saloon  in  a  large 
canvas  building  in  the  centre  of  the  town.  It  was  the  prin- 
cipal rendezvous  for  the  Germans,  and  a  popular  retail 
establishment.  Ililtebrant  was  known  to  possess  a  consid- 
erable amount  of  coin  and  gold  dust,  which  the  roughs  re- 
solved to  appropriate.  The  barriers  in  the  way  involved 
only  the  p()ssii)le  murder  of  the  owner  and  two  friends  who 
occupied  a  large  bed  in  the  front  of  the  saloon.  Between 
twelve  and  one  o'clock  in  one  of  the  coldest  nights  of  the 
first  week  of  .January,  the  door  was  suddenly  broken  from 
its  hinges,  and  a  volley  of  balls  fired  in  the  direction  of 
the  bed.     llillebrant  was  instantlv  killed.     His  two  com- 


SOCIETY  IN  LEWISTON        33 

panions,  after  returning  the  fire  of  the  ruffians,  seized  the 
treasure  and  escaped.  One  of  the  villains  was  wounded  in 
the  finger.  When  the  firing  ceased,  the  robbers  coolly  en- 
tered tile  building,  lighted  a  candle,  and  proceeded  to 
search  for  the  money.  Finding  none  they  departed,  utter- 
ing curses  upon  their  ill-fortune,  not,  however,  until  sev- 
eral citizens  appeared  upon  the  scene,  and  witnessed  the 
enormity  of  their  crime.  The  murderers  passed  fearlessly 
and  unconcernedly  through  the  crowd,  no  effort  being  made 
to  arrest  them,  lest  a  rescue  might  be  attempted,  which 
would  prove  fatal  to  all  concerned,  and  possibly  result  in 
the  burning  of  the  town.  The  next  day,  however,  a  meet- 
ing of  the  citizens  was  held,  for  the  avowed  purpose  of 
punishing  the  murderers,  and  devising  measures  to  arrest 
the  further  progress  of  crime. 

This  was  the  first  effort  at  self-protection  made  by  the 
people.  The  moment  was  a  trying  one.  All  knew  that  the 
roughs  were  in  the  majority,  and  no  one  was  bold  enough 
to  recommend  open  resistance  to  their  encroachments,  for 
fear  of  consequences.  Henry  Plummer  took  an  active  part 
in  the  proceedings,  depicting  with  fervid  eloquence  "  the 
horrors  of  anarchy  "  and  solemnly  warning  the  people  to 
"  take  no  steps  that  might  bring  disgrace  and  obloquy  upon 
their  rising  young  city."  Known  as  a  gambler  only,  and 
suspected  by  few  of  any  darker  associations,  his  winning 
manner  had  the  effect  to  squelch  in  its  inception  the  ini- 
tiatory movement,  which  at  no  distant  period  was  to  burst 
forth  and  whelm  him,  with  hundreds  of  his  bloody  asso- 
ciates, in  its  avenging  vortex. 

The  brother  of  the  murdered  Hiltebrant  was  in  busi- 
ness at  this  time  at  the  Oro  Fino  mines.  Hearing  of  the 
murder,  he  openly  avowed  the  intention  of  going  imme- 
diately to  Lewiston  to  bring  the  authors  to  justice.  The 
banditti  sent  him  a  message  that  he  would  not  live  to  get 
there,  which  had  the  effect  to  daunt  him  from  his  purpose, 
and  the  assassins,  for  the  time,  escaped  punishment. 


CHAPTER  III 
NORTHERN  MINES 

PROSPECTING,  as  it  Is  called,  for  gold  placers  and 
quartz  veins  has  grown  into  a  profession.  No  man 
can  engage  in  it  successfully  unless  he  understands  it. 
There  are  certain  indications  in  the  face  of  the  country, 
the  character  of  the  rocks,  the  presentation  of  the 
strata,  the  form  of  the  gulch,  the  gravel  in  streams  or  on 
the  bars,  the  cement  formation  below  it,  or  the  shape  of  the 
mountains,  which  are  generally  known  only  to  experienced 
prospectors,  that  determine  generally  the  presence  of  the 
precious  metals.  Guided  by  these  unmistakable  signs,  the 
veteran  gold  searcher  is  sustained  in  his  solitary  explora- 
tions by  the  consciousness  of  possessing  knowledge  which 
nmst  sooner  or  later  lead  to  success.  Impressed  with  the 
idea  that  as  many  rich  gulches  and  productive  veins  have 
been  found,  so  others  remain  to  be  discovered, —  and  that 
as  those  already  developed  have  made  their  owners  rich,  so 
some  fortunate  discovery  may  do  the  same  for  him, —  he 
mounts  his  pony,  and  with  pick,  shovel,  and  pan,  a  mag- 
nifying glass,  a  few  pounds  of  bacon,  flour,  and  coffee,  his 
trusty  rifle  and  revolver  at  hand,  and  his  roll  of  blankets 
and  not  un frequently  a  quart  flask  of  whiskey,  he  plunges 
into  the  unexplored  recesses  of  the  mountains,  and  for 
weeks  and  months  is  lost  to  all  the  world  of  humanity  be- 
side himself.  Alone,  but  encouraged  by  that  liope  which 
outlives  every  disappointment,  he  wanders  hundreds  of 
miles  into  the  unvisited  wilderness,  the  hero  of  countless 
adventures  and  the  explorer  of  the  world's  great  solitudes, 

84 


NORTHERN  MINES  35 

Men  of  this  class  are  luuncrous  in  all  gold-mining  re- 
gions. Their  very  occupation  makes  them  maniacs.  They 
lose  all  relish  for  society,  and  think  of  nothing  but  the 
success  they  are  one  day  to  meet  with  in  the  pursuit  of 
gold.  Frequent  as  their  discoveries  often  are,  and  prom- 
ising as  many  of  them  proved  to  be,  the  one  they  are  in 
search  of  lies  still  farther  onward.  Abandoning  to  those 
who  follow  them  discoveries  which  would  assure  them  all 
the  wealth  they  need,  they  lead  on  and  on  into  the  moun- 
tain labyrinth,  pioneering  the  path  of  empire,  to  die  at 
last  alone,  unfriended,  and  destitute,  beyond  its  utmost 
boundaries.  It  is  to  such  men  that  we  owe  the  discovery 
of  all  the  gold  regions  which  have  contributed  to  our  wealth 
since  the  days  of  Marshall,  the  discoverer  of  gold  in  Cal- 
ifornia in  184-8. 

Gold  had  been  discovered  west  of  the  mountains  in  sev- 
eral portions  of  Washington  Territory  previous  to  this 
time.  As  early  as  the  year  1852,  H.  M.  Chase  found  it 
on  a  creek  which  flowed  into  the  Grand  Ronde  River.  He 
exhibited  it  at  Portland,  and  such  was  the  excitement  it 
occasioned  that  several  parties  of  discovery  were  organized, 
and  plunged  into  the  mountain  recesses  of  that  poi'tion  of 
Washington  which  afterwards  became  Idaho.  Among 
others  was  one  Pierce,  who  became  infatuated  with  the 
idea  that  the  river  sands  of  this  unexplored  region  were 
filled  with  diamonds.  He  searched  for  them  very  thor- 
oughly, but  the  traditions  of  the  time  fail  to  inform  me 
that  he  found  anything  more  valuable  than  gold.  An  un- 
important camp  of  the  early  miners,  which  received  his 
name,  has  served  to  transmit  his  memory  and  mania  to  the 
present  period.  These  early  explorations,  leading  deeper 
and  deeper  into  the  mountain  wilderness,  finally  resulted 
in  the  discovery  of  the  Florence  and  Oro  Fino  mines. 

Thousands  of  people,  lured  by  their  discoveries,  had 
nearly  worked  out  the  placers  of  Oro  Fino  during  the 


/■ 


.%     VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

Summer  of  1861.  The  Pacific  world,  alive  to  the  impor- 
tance of  a  region  which  promised  such  great  additions  to 
its  wealth,  kept  up  a  stream  of  emigration  to  the  placers, 
wiiich  exhausted  all  the  sources  of  supply  more  rapidly 
than  they  could  be  filled.  The  world  was  there  in  minia- 
ture. Meantime  the  indomitable  prospector  kept  in  the 
van.  Crossing  the  Salmon  River  range,  he  soon  unveiled 
the  riches  of  those  placers  which  afterwards  became  known 
as  Florence  and  Elk  City.  They  were  immediately  oc- 
cupied by  thousands, —  and  other  thousands  of  the  far 
East,  thrilled  with  the  story  of  their  richness,  were  on 
their  way  to  the  new  El  Dorado.  An  hcgira  similar  to 
that  of  18-i9  again  took  place  across  the  plains.  Lewis- 
ton  was  no  longer  the  base  of  operations.  Among  the 
earliest  of  those  to  abandon  it  for  a  point  more  favorable 
to  the  prosecution  of  their  enterprise,  were  the  banditti 
which  had  so  long  held  its  inhabitants  in  fear.  Supplied 
with  horses  from  the  shebang  on  the  Walla  Walla  road, 
they  (It-parted  from  I^ewlston  in  small  parties,  intending 
to  recommence  operations  at  a  place  afterwards  to  be 
selected,  in  the  mountains  of  the  interior. 

The  daring,  adventurous,  and  courageous  elements  of 
character  are  necessarily  developed  and  brought  into  fre- 
(jutnt  action  in  a  mining  country;  and  whenever  these  are 
found  in  combination  with  higli  moral  principle,  they  are 
litld  in  continual  fear  by  men  of  criminal  life.  One  bold, 
honest  man  will  di-morali/.e  the  guilty  designs  of  a  host  of 
rascals.  Xotiiing  was  so  much  dreaded  by  I'hnnmer's  mur- 
derous gang  as  the  possible  organization  of  a  A'igilance 
Connnittcr ;  and  any  man  wjio  favored  it  was  marked  for 
early  destruction.  Such  a  man  was  Patrick  Ford,  the 
keeper  of  a  saloon  in  Lewlston.  Ford  was  an  active  man 
in  his  own  business, —  eager  in  the  pursuit  of  gain,  but 
entirely  upright  in  his  dealings,  and  the  open  and  avowed 
enemy  of  the  roughs.     He,  more  than  any  other  member 


NORTHERN  MINES  37 

of  the  community,  had  urged  the  people  of  Lewiston  to 
unite  for  their  protection,  and  hang  every  suspected  in- 
dividual in  the  phice;  and  he  taunted  them  with  cowardice 
when  they  disbanded  without  punishing  the  known  mur- 
derers of  Hiltebrant.  As  fearless  as  he  was  uncompro- 
mising, he  denounced  the  ruffians  in  person,  and  warned 
them  that  a  time  would  come  ere  long  when  they  would 
meet  their  deserts  at  the  hands  of  an  outraged  people.  He 
did  not  conceal  from  them  his  intention  of  following  in  the 
track  of  the  prosperous  miner,  lead  where  it  might, — 
which  purpose  they  resolved  to  prevent.  His  death  they 
regarded  as  necessary  to  their  future  prosperity.  Having 
ascertained  that  he  intended  to  leave  Lewiston  with  a  half- 
dozen  dancing  girls  for  the  saloon  he  had  established  at 
Oro  Fino,  they  laid  a  plan  to  insult  him  and  involve  him 
in  a  quarrel  on  his  arrival  at  their  shebang,  and  kill  him. 
Ford  was  admonished  of  the  design,  which  he  foiled  by 
avoiding  the  shebang.  Being  assured  of  his  safe  passage 
to  Oro  Fino,  the  robbers,  led  by  Plummer,  Ridgely,  and 
Reeves,  mounted  their  horses  and  started  for  the  interior. 
Of  the  particular  events  of  the  early  part  of  the  trip,  fur- 
ther than  that  it  was  marked  by  the  frequent  robbery  of 
travellers,  I  am  unable  to  speak.  When  within  seven  or 
eight  miles  of  Oro  Fino,  the  robbers  observed  two  French- 
men, some  distance  apart,  approaching  them  on  foot.  The 
one  in  advance  was  ordered  to  stop  and  throw  up  his  hands, 
as  in  that  position  he  was  powerless  and  could  not  offer 
any  resistance.  After  a  careful  search  of  his  person  they 
found  nothing  of  value,  and  bade  him  move  on  as  rapidly 
as  possible,  telling  him  that  it  was  "  a  rough  country  to 
be  in  without  money  "  and  that  he  "  had  better  get  out 
of  it  as  soon  as  possible."  With  the  other,  whom  they 
subjected  to  a  like  process,  they  were  more  fortunate, 
and,  despite  his  solemn  denial,  found  in  his  pocket  a  purse 
containing  a  thousand  dollars  in  dust,  which  they  appro- 


38     VlGILxVXTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

priatcd,  dismissing  him  with  the  remark  that  if  he  had 
done  the  square  thing  and  not  lied  they  would  have  given 
him  enough  to  take  hiin  to  the  Columbia, —  but  as  it  was, 
he  might  be  thankful  to  get  off  with  a  whole  carcass. 
Some  idea  may  be  formed  of  the  daring  and  recklessness 
of  this  robbery  when  it  is  understood  to  have  occurred 
at  midday,  near  a  town  containing  a  population  of 
several  thousands,  and  on  a  thoroughfare  thronged  with 
travellers. 

Uttering  a  shout  of  exultation,  the  robbers  dashed  into 
the  town  of  Oro  Fino  with  the  impetuosity-  of  a  cavalry 
charge.  Reining  up  In  front  of  Ford's  saloon,  which  they 
entered,  they  called  loudly  upon  the  bar-keeper  for  liquor. 
Ford  was  absent.  When  they  had  drunk,  they  commenced 
demolishing  the  contents  of  the  saloon.  Decanters,  tum- 
blers, chairs,  and  tables  were  broken  and  scattered  over 
the  apartment.  One  of  their  number,  more  fiendish  than 
the  others,  seized  a  lap-dog  from  one  of  the  females  and 
cut  otl"  his  tail.  At  this  juncture  Ford  himself  came  upon 
the  scene.  Boldly  confronting  the  rioters,  pistol  in  hand, 
he  ordered  them  instantly  to  leave  his  premises.  He 
charged  them  with  the  robbery  of  the  Frenchmen,  and 
denou!iced  them  as  thieves,  robbers,  and  murderers.  They 
saw  and  feared  his  determination,  and  obeyed  liis  com- 
mands with  alacrity.  He  followed  them  into  the  street, 
and  threatened  them  with  punishment  if  they  remained  in 
town.  They  wore  about  to  act  upon  this  hint,  when  Ford, 
fully  armed,  came  to  them  a  second  time,  and  demanded 
the  cause  of  their  delay.  He  was  answered  with  a  bullet, 
inflicting  a  dangerous  wound.  The  fire  was  returned,  and 
the  fight  became  general, —  three  against  one.  The  rob- 
bers Were  protected  by  their  horses,  while  their  antagonist 
was  openly  exposed  to  their  fire.  Ford  emptied  the  charges 
from  one  six-shooter,  made  five  shots  with  the  other,  and 
was  in  the  act  of  aiming  for  the  last,  when  he  fell  dead. 


NORTHERN  MINES  39 

riddled  with  the  balls  of  his  adversaries,  llidgely  was  shot 
through  the  leg  twice,  and  Plummcr's  horse  disabled. 

Such  was  the  melancholy  fate  of  Patrick  Ford, —  a  man 
long  to  be  remembered  as  the  friend  of  law  and  order, — 
the  first,  indeed,  in  the  northern  mines  who  dared  to  urge 
the  extermination  of  the  robbers,  as  tlie  only  remedy  for 
their  depredations.  He  literally  sealed  his  principles  with 
his  life's  blood. 

Ridgely's  wounds  disabled  him  for  service.  He  was 
taken  by  his  companions  to  a  ranche  near  the  town,  and 
as  well  cared  for  as  circumstances  would  admit.  Leaving 
him  there,  the  other  members  of  the  band,  fearful  of  the 
friends  of  Ford,  seldom  ventured  beyond  the  limits  of  their 
camp. 


CIIAPTKU  IV 

CHAHLKV  HARPER 

ANEW  caiuliduti.'  for  blood}'  laurels  now  appears  in 
the  person  of  Charley  Harper.  He  arrived  in  Walla 
Walla  in  the  Fall  of  1861.  A  young  man  of  twenty-five, 
of  medium  size,  of  erect  carriage,  dear,  Horid  complexion, 
and  profuse  auburn  hair,  he  could,  but  for  the  leer  in  his 
small  inexpressive  gray  eye,  have  passed  in  any  society  for 
a  gentleman.  His  previous  life  is  a  sealed  book; — but 
the  readiness  with  which  he  engaged  in  crime  showed  that 
he  was  not  without  experience.  He  told  his  landlord  that 
he  had  no  money,  but  that  partners  were  coming  who 
would  relieve  his  necessities.  The  second  night  after  his 
arrival,  several  hundred  dollars  in  gold  coin  was  stolen 
from  a  lodger  who  occupied  the  room  adjoining  his.  While 
intoxicated  the  next  day,  he  exhibited  by  the  handful 
eagles  which  he  said  were  borrowed  from  an  acquaintance. 
No  one  doubtrd  that  he  had  stolen  them ;  but  where 
officers  Were  believed  to  wink  at  crime,  prosecution  was 
useless.  Charley  was  not  even  arrested  upon  suspicion. 
The  money  he  had  obtained  introduced  him  to  the  society 
of  the  roughs,  with  whom  he  became  so  popular  that  he 
aspired  to  be  their  leader.  This  honor  was  disputed  by 
Hidgcly,  whom  wc  left  wounded  in  the  last  chapter,  and 
by  Cherokee  Rob,  both  of  whom  claimed  precedence 
from  longer  residence  and  greater  familiarity  with  the  op- 
portunities for  distinction. 

Circumstances    soon    occurred    which    enabled    Chariev, 
without  disputation,   to  assume   the  role  of  chief  of  the 

40 


CHARLEY  HARPER  41 

Walla  Walla  desperadoes.  Cherokee  Bob,  heretofore  men- 
tioned as  an  associate  of  Plunnner  at  Lewiston,  was  an 
uneducated  Southerner.  His  mother  was  a  half-blood 
Cherokee, —  hence  his  name.  With  a  hatred  of  the  North 
and  the  Northern  soldiery  born  of  prejudice  and  ignorance, 
and  a  constitutional  faith  in  the  superior  prowess  of  the 
Southern  people,  and  with  mercurial  passions  inflamed  by 
the  contest  that  was  still  raging,  this  ruffian  was  nearly 
a  maniac  in  his  adherence  to  the  cause  of  Secession.  He 
could  talk  or  think  of  little  else  than  the  great  inferiority 
of  the  Northern  to  the  Southern  soldiers,  and  was  contin- 
ually boasting  of  his  own  superior  physical  power.  He 
would  often  taunt  the  soldiers  of  the  garrison  near  Walla 
Walla.  In  ingenuity  of  vaunting  expression,  he  far  ex- 
celled Captain  Bobadil  himself; — but  like  that  hero  of 
dramatic  fiction  he  was  destined  to  experience  a  reverse 
more  humiliating,  if  possible,  than  that  of  his  great  proto- 
type. With  shotgun  in  hand  and  revolver  in  his  belt,  it 
was  his  frequent  boast  that  he  could  take  a  negro  along 
with  him,  carrying  two  baskets  loaded  with  pistols,  and 
put  to  flight  the  bravest  regiment  of  the  Federal  army. 

No  person  who  has  witnessed  a  theatrical  performance 
in  a  mining  camp  can  forget  the  general  din  and  noise  with 
which  the  audience  fill  up  the  intervals  between  the  acts. 
Whistling,  singing,  hooting,  yelling,  and  a  general  shuffling 
of  feet  and  moving  about  are  so  invariable  as  to  form,  in 
fact,  a  feature  of  the  performance.  So  long  as  they  are 
unaccompanied  by  quarrelsome  demonstrations,  and  do  not 
become  too  boisterous,  efforts  are  seldom  made  to  suppress 
them.  The  boys  are  permitted  to  have  a  good  time  in 
their  own  way,  and  the  lookers-on,  accustomed  to  the  scene, 
are  often  compensated  for  any  annoyance  that  may  be  oc- 
casioned, by  strokes  of  border  humor  more  enjoyable  than 
the  play  itself. 

Cherokee  Bob,  eager  for  an  opportunity  when  he  could 


42     VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

wreak  his  demoniac  wrath  upon  some  of  the  Federal  sol- 
diers, with  the  aid  and  complicity  of  Deputy  Sheriff  Por- 
ter, who  like  himself  was  a  Secessionist,  contrived  the  fol- 
lowing ])liin  as  favorahle  to  his  purpose;  it  was  agreed 
between  them,  that  on  a  certain  evening  Bob  and  his  friends 
should  attend  the  theatre,  fully  armed.  Porter,  under  pre- 
text of  (juelling  disturbances  between  the  acts,  should  by 
his  insulting  language  and  manner  provoke  an  affray  with 
the  soldiers  present,  in  the  progress  of  which  he  would 
command  Bob  and  those  with  him  to  assist,  and  thus 
under  the  seeming  protection  of  law,  save  them  from  the 
consequences  of  any  acts  of  vengeance  they  desired  to  com- 
mit. On  the  evening  appointed,  six  or  seven  soldiers  were 
seated  side  by  side  in  the  pit,  a  single  one  occupying  a 
seat  in  the  gallery  behind  them.  Porter  was  near  them, 
and  Bob  and  his  associates  in  a  position  convenient  to 
him.  When  the  curtain  fell  upon  the  first  act,  the  usual 
noises  commenced,  the  soldiers  joining  in  making  them. 
Porter  sprang  from  his  seat,  and  striding  in  front  of  them, 
vociferated, 

"  Dry  up  there,  you  brass-mounted  hirelings,  or  I  Ml 
snatcii  you  bald-headed." 

This  insulting  language  produced  the  desired  effect. 
Smarting  under  the  implied  reproach  it  conveyed,  one  of 
the  soldiers  sharply  inquired, 

"  Why  do  you  single  us  out,  when  there  are  others  more 
boisterous?  " 

Porter  waited  for  no  further  provocation,  but  drawing 
and  cocking  his  revolver  with  one  hand,  and  seizing  the  sol- 
dier nearest  to  him  with  the  other,  he  dragged  him  ignomin- 
iously  into  the  circle  where  he  was  standing,  ordering  the 
deputy  city  marshal  and  Bob  and  his  friends  to  assist  in  ar- 
resting him.  The  soldiers  offered  resistance.  An  imme- 
diate vii'ltv  was  the  consequence.  The  women  and  children 
In  the  audience  screamed  in  affright.     The  other  soldiers 


CHARLEY  HARPER  43 

present  rushed  with  drawn  pistols  to  the  rescue  of  their 
comrade.  The  one  in  the  gallery  sprang  upon  one  of  the 
officers  with  the  ferocity  of  a  wild  beast.  Cherokee  Bob 
with  a  pistol  in  one  hand  and  a  bowie-knife  in  the  other, 
his  voice  wildly  ringing  above  all  other  sounds,  was  in  his 
true  element.  More  than  a  dozen  pistol  shots  followed  in 
quick  succession.  Two  of  the  soldiers  were  killed,  and 
others  fearfully  mangled.  Porter  and  his  deputy  as- 
sistant were  each  shot  through  a  leg,  the  latter  crippled 
for  life.  The  work  of  blood  w  as  progressing,  and  but  for 
the  interference  of  an  officer  of  the  garrison,  would  have 
ended  only  with  the  death  of  the  assassins. 

The  next  day  the  soldiers  appealed  to  their  commanding 
officer  for  redress.  He  ordered  those  of  them  engaged  in 
the  affray  to  be  placed  under  arrest,  and  dismissed  the  sub- 
ject from  his  thoughts.  Indignant  at  this  unexpected 
treatment,  about  fifty  of  the  soldiers  armed  themselves, 
and  marched  into  town,  with  the  determination  to  capture 
and  hang  Cherokee  Bob,  whom  they  knew  to  be  the  chief 
mover  of  the  murderous  assault.  Disavowing  all  riotous 
intentions  they  informed  the  citizens  of  their  design  and 
commenced  a  thorough  search  for  the  murderer.  He, 
meanwhile,  fearful  of  their  revenge,  eluded  them  by  leav- 
ing the  town  before  the  dawn  of  morning  on  a  stolen  horse, 
for  Lewiston. 

The  year  before  his  appearance  in  Walla  Walla,  Ridgely 
was  living  in  Sacramento.  During  his  sojourn  there  he 
acquired  notoriety  for  his  thievish  and  villainous  propensi- 
ties. One  of  the  police  corps,  detecting  him  in  the  com- 
mission of  a  larceny,  arrested  him.  He  was  convicted,  and 
sentenced  to  imprisonment  in  the  county  jail.  He  vowed 
revenge  against  Gilchrist  the  policeman,  but  on  his  re- 
lease fled  to  the  gold  mines.  Soon  after  his  arrival  at 
Walla  Walla  he  fell  in  with  his  old  enemy,  and  secretly  re- 
newed the  determination  to  take  his  life.      Calling  upon  a 


44     VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

friend  to  accompany  lilm,  he  boldly  entered  a  saloon  where 
he  knew  Gilchrist  to  be  and  fired  several  shots  at  him.  Gil- 
christ fell  at  the  first  fire.  Ridgely,  believing  he  had  killed 
him,  left  the  saloon,  saying  as  he  went,  "  I  have  thrown  a 
load  off  my  mind,  and  now  feel  easy."  Gilchrist  was  badly 
wounded,  but  recovered.  Ridgely,  escaping  arrest  on  the 
night  of  the  assault,  crossed  the  river  into  Oregon  the  next 
day,  beyond  the  jurisdiction  of  the  authorities  of  Walla 
Walla,  which  was  in  Washington  Territory.  Thence  he 
went  to  Lewiston  and  joined  Plummer. 

Cherokee  Bob  and  Ridgely  being  out  of  the  way,  Charley 
Harper,  as  next  in  rank  on  the  scale  of  villainous  prefer- 
ment, became  the  Walla  Walla  chief. 


CHAPTER  V 

CHEROKEE  BOB 

INTELLIGENCE  of  the  discovery  in  1861  of  extensive 
placers  on  the  head  waters  of  Salmon  River,  excelling 
in  richness  any  former  locations,  had  been  circulated 
through  all  the  border  towns  during  the  following  Winter. 
The  excitement  consequent  thereon  was  intense.  Such  was 
the  impatience  of  the  people  to  effect  an  early  arrival  there 
that  many  left  Walla  Walla  and  Lewiston  in  mid-winter, 
and  on  their  way  thither  perished  in  the  snows  which  en- 
gorged the  mountain  passes.  Others,  more  cautious, 
awaited  the  coming  of  warm  weather,  and  made  the  jour- 
ney,—  tedious,  difficult,  and  dangerous  at  best, —  with 
comparative  safety.  Among  the  latter  number  were  Char- 
ley Harper  and  his  band  of  brigands.  Mounted  on  strong, 
fleet  horses  which  they  had  acquired  during  the  winter,  the 
criminal  cavalcade  with  its  chief  at  the  head  dashed  up  the 
river  valley,  insulting,  threatening,  or  robbing  every  one 
so  unfortunate  as  to  fall  in  their  way.  Of  the  number 
prominent  in  the  riotous  column  were  Peoples,  English, 
Scott,  and  Brockie  —  men  whose  deeds  of  villainy  have 
blackened  the  criminal  records  of  nearly  all  the  larger 
cities  of  the  Pacific  slope.  With  none  of  the  magnanimity 
which  characterized  Joaquin  Murieta  and  the  earlier  brig- 
ands of  California,  and  with  all  their  recklessness  of  crime 
and  murder,  a  meaner,  baser,  more  contemptible  band  of 
ruffians  perhaps  never  before  disgraced  the  annals  of  the 
race.  No  crime  was  too  atrocious  for  them  to  commit,  no 
act  of  shame  or  wantonness  was  uncongenial  to  their  grov- 
elling natures.     They  were  as  totally  depraved  as  a  long 

45 


46     VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

and  unchecked  career  of  every  variety  of  criminal  indul- 
gence could  make  them.  Afraid  of  nothing  but  the  law, 
and  not  afraid  of  that  in  these  new  and  unorganized  com- 
munities, they  were  little  else  than  devils  incarnate.  In- 
sensible to  all  appeals  for  mere}',  and  ever  acting  upon  the 
cautious  maxim  that  "  dead  men  tell  no  tales,"  the  only 
chance  for  escape  from  death  for  those  whom  they  as- 
saulted was  in  their  utter  inability  to  do  them  injury. 
Human  life  regarded  as  an  obstacle  to  their  designs,  was 
of  no  more  importance  than  the  blowing  up  of  a  safe,  or 
any  other  act  which  stood  between  them  and  their  prey. 
Of  course  it  was  impossible  that  such  a  band  of  despera- 
does should  pass  over  the  long  and  desolate  route  from 
Walla  Walla  to  Florence  without  adventure. 

On  the  second  or  third  day  after  leaving  Walla  Walla, 
when  nearing  Florence,  they  met  a  company  consisting  of 
five  men  and  a  boy  of  sixteen,  who  were  on  their  way  to  a 
neighboring  camp.  The  brigands  surrounded  them,  and 
with  cocked  pistols  well  aimed,  gave  the  usual  order, 
"  Throw  up  your  hands."  This  order  being  obeyed,  two 
of  them  dismounted  to  search  the  persons  of  their  victims 
for  treasure,  the  others  meanwhile  covering  them  with  their 
revolvers.  Five  purses,  containing  amounts  varying  from 
fifty  to  five  hundred  dollars,  were  taken  from  them.  The 
boy  was  overlooked,  and  had  seated  himself  on  a  granite 
bowlder  by  the  roadside. 

Scott,  as  he  tells  the  story  himself,  approached  him  more 
from  curiosity  than  expectation,  when  the  following  con- 
versation ensued: 

"  Come,"  said  Scott,  addressing  him,  '*  draw  your  weasel 
now." 

"  How  do  you  know  I  'vc  got  any,  stranger?  "  queried 
the  youth. 

"  \o  fooling,  I  say.     Hand  out  your  buckskin." 

''  You  would  n't  rob  a  poor  little  devil  like  me,  would 


you 


J 


CHEROKEE  BOB  47 

"  Don't  keep  ine  waiting  longer,  or  I  '11  cut  your  ears 
off,"  —  and  Scott  drew  his  bowie  as  if  to  carry  the  threat 
into  execution. 

"  Well,  I  only  get  half-wages,  you  know.  Is  your  heart 
all  gizzard?  " 

"  Get  off  from  that  stone  and  shell  out,  or  I  '11  blow 
your  brains  out  in  a  minute,"  said  Scott. 

The  boy  sprung  up  hurriedly,  and  with  affected  reluct- 
ance thrust  his  hand  into  his  pocket. 

"  Well,  stra-an-nger,"  he  inquired  with  a  peculiar  drawl 
and  quizzical  expression  of  the  eyes,  "  what  do  you  take 
Salmon  River  dust  at,  anyhow?  " 

With  this  he  drew  forth  an  empty  purse,  and  handing 
it  to  Scott,  said, 

"  If  you  think  I  've  got  any  more,  search  me." 

Pleased  with  the  pluck  and  humor  of  the  lad,  one  of  the 
band  threw  him  a  five-dollar  piece,  and  they  galloped  fu- 
riously on  towards  Florence. 

Thundering  into  the  town,  they  drew  up  before  the  first 
saloon,  fired  their  pistols,  and  urged  their  horses  into  the 
establishment.  Without  dismounting  they  ordered  liquor 
for  the  crowd.  All  the  by-standers  partook  with  them. 
Harper  ostentatiously  threw  one  of  the  purses  he  had  just 
seized  upon  the  counter,  telling  the  barkeeper  to  weigh 
out  the  amount  of  the  bill,  and  after  a  few  moments  they 
left  the  saloon,  "  to  see,"  as  one  of  them  expressed  him- 
self, "  whether  the  town  was  big  enough  to  hold  them." 

This  irruption  into  Florence  occurred  while  that  city 
was  comparatively  in  embryo.  The  great  floods  of  immi- 
gration from  the  East  and  West  had  not  arrived.  Some 
months  must  elapse  before  the  expectations  of  the  robbers 
could  be  realized.  Meantime  they  distributed  themselves 
among  the  saloons  and  bagnios,  and  by  means  of  gambling 
and  frequent  robberies,  contrived  to  hold  the  comnmnity  in 
fear  and  pick  up  a  subsistence  until  the  great  crowd  came. 

Leaving  them  for  a  season,  we  will  return  to  Cherokee 


48     VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

Bob,  whom  we  left  in  his  ignominious  flight  from  Walhi 
Walla  to  Lewiston,  on  a  stolen  horse.  That  worthy  had 
established  himself  in  a  saloon  at  Lewiston,  and  while  there, 
renewed  an  acquaintance  with  an  old  pal  known  as  Bill 
Mayfield. 

IVIayficld  was  a  fugitive  from  justice  from  Carson  City, 
Nevada,  where  in  the  Winter  of  18G1-G2  he  renewed  an 
acquaintance  with  Henry  Plummer,  whom  he  had  known 
before  that  time  in  California.  The  Governor  of  Califor- 
nia had  issued  a  requisition  for  the  surrender  of  Plummer, 
and  a  warrant  for  his  arrest  was  in  the  hands  of  John 
Blackburn,  the  sheriff  at  Carson  City.  Though  cfllcient 
as  an  officer,  Blackburn,  while  in  liquor,  was  overbearing 
and  boastful  of  his  prowess.  His  reputation  was  bad 
among  the  leading  citizens  of  the  town.  Foiled  in  his  search 
for  Plunnner,  who,  he  believed,  was  in  the  Territory',  and 
knowing  of  Mayfield's  intimacy  with  him,  he  accused  the 
latter  with  concealing  him.  Mayfield  denied  the  charge, 
and  to  avoid  a  quarrel  with  Blackburn,  who  was  intox- 
icated, immediately  left  the  saloon  where  the  interview  oc- 
curred, but  as  a  measure  of  precaution  armed  himself  with 
a  bowie-knife.  Blackburn,  rendered  desperate  by  liquor, 
soon  followed  in  pursuit  of  him,  and  at  a  later  hour  of  the 
same  day  found  him  in  another  saloon.  As  he  entered  the 
front,  Mayfield  triid  to  leave  by  the  rear  door.  Failing 
in  this,  he  drew  his  knife,  and  concealed  it  in  his  sleeve. 
Approaching  Mayfield  in  a  bullying  manner  Blackburn  said 
to  him, 

"  I  will  arrest  Plummer,  and  no  one  can  prevent  it.  I 
can  arrest  anybody.     I  can  arrest  you  if  I  wish  to." 

"  You  can  arrest  me,"  replied  Mayfield,  "  if  you  have 
a  warrant  for  my  arrest,  but  you  can't  without." 

"  I  tell  you,"  rejoined  Blackburn  tauntingly,  "  that  I 
ran  arrest  you,  or  any  one  else,"  and  added  with  an  on\h, 
"  I  will  arrest  you  anyhow,"  accompanying  this  threat  with 
a  gras|)  for  his  pistol.     Mayfield,  with  flash-like  (juickness. 


,         CHEROKEE  BOB  49 

slipped  his  knife  from  its  place  of  concealment,  and  gave 
him  an  anticipatory  stab  in  the  breast.  Blackburn  then 
tried  to  close  with  him,  and  being  much  the  stronger 
man  would  have  killed  him  had  not  Mayfield  jumped  aside 
and  plied  his  knife  vigorously  until  Blackburn  fell.  He 
died  almost  instantly.  iNIayfield  surrendered  himself  for 
trial,  was  convicted  of  murder,  and  sentenced  to  be 
hanged. 

While  awaiting  execution  in  the  penitentiary,  two  miles 
distant  from  Carson,  a  plan  for  undermining  the  prison 
was  successful,  and  he  escaped.  The  friends  who  effected 
this  were  among  the  best  citizens  of  Carson.  They  deemed 
the  sentence  unjust,  and  as  soon  as  he  was  out  of  con- 
finement, mounted  him  on  a  good  horse,  provided  him  with 
arms,  and  bade  him  leave  the  State  as  rapidly  as  possible. 
When  his  escape  was  discovered  the  next  morning  the  jailer 
started  in  pursuit.  He  struck  the  track  of  the  fugitive, 
and  by  means  of  relays,  gained  rapidly  upon  him.  May- 
field's  friends  meantime  were  not  idle.  They  managed  to 
be  apprised  of  his  progress,  followed  close  upon  his  pur- 
suers, and  by  a  short  cut  at  a  favorable  point,  overtook 
him,  and,  doubling  back,  concealed  him  at  a  ranche  in  Pea 
Vine  Valley,  only  forty  miles  from  Carson  City.  There  he 
remained  six  weeks, —  many  of  the  leading  citizens  of  Car- 
son meantime  watching  for  an  opportunity  to  aid  his  es- 
cape from  the  State.  A  careless  exposure  of  his  person 
led  to  his  recognition  and  the  discovery  of  his  retreat.  His 
friends  were  the  first  to  learn  of  it,  and  before  the  officers 
could  arrive  at  the  ranche,  Mayfield  was  on  his  way  to 
Huffaker's  ranche  on  the  Truckee  River,  which  was  nearer 
Carson  by  half  the  distance  than  the  ranche  he  had  left. 
While  the  officers  were  scouring  the  country  in  pursuit  of 
him,  he  remained  there  until  Spring,  sharing  a  box  stall 
with  a  favorite  race-horse.  When  Spring  was  far  enough 
advanced  to  afford  pasturage  and  comfortable  travel,  he 
was  furnished  by  his  friends  with  a  good  "  outfit,"  and 


50     VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

made  the  journey  unmolested  to  Lewiston,  where  he  joined 
his  old  friends  Plunimer  and  Cherokee  Bob. 

Here  he  trumped  up  an  intimacy  with  a  woman  calling 
lierself  Cynthia,  at  that  time  stewardess  of  a  hotel  in 
Lewiston,  and  the  fallen  wife  of  a  very  worthy  man. 

In  June,  Cherokee  Bob,  accompanied  by  Mayfield  and 
Cynthia,  left  Lewiston  for  Florence.  Soon  after  their  ar- 
rival the  jealousy  of  May  field  was  aroused  by  the  particu- 
lar attentions  of  Bob  to  his  mistress.  On  his  part  Bob 
made  no  concealment  of  his  attachment  for  the  woman,  and 
when  charged  with  harboring  an  intention  of  appropriating 
her  affections,  boldly  acknowledged  the  soft  impeachment. 
Cynthia  possessed  many  charms  of  person,  and  consider- 
able intelligence.  She  had,  moreover,  an  e^'e  to  the  main 
chance,  and  was  ready  to  bestow  her  favors  where  they 
would  command  the  most  money.  Bob  was  richer  than 
Mayfield,  and  this  fact  won  for  him  many  encouraging 
smiles  from  the  fair  object  of  his  pursuit.  Mayfield's  jeal- 
ousy flamed  into  anger,  and  he  resolved  to  bring  matters 
to  a  crisis,  which  should  either  secure  his  undisturbed  pos- 
session of  the  woman,  or  transfer  her  to  the  sole  care  of 
his  rival.  He  had  confidence  enough  in  Cynthia  to  believe 
that  when  required  to  choose  between  him  and  Cherokee 
Bob,  her  good  taste,  if  nothing  else,  would  give  him  the 
preference.  He  had  not  calculated  on  the  strength  of  her 
cupidity.  Confronting  Bob  fn  her  presence,  he  said,  as 
he  laid  his  hand  on  the  butt  of  his  revolver, 

"  Bob,  you  know  me." 

"  Yes,"  replied  Bob  with  a  similar  gesture,  "  and  Bill, 
you  know  me." 

"  Well,  now,  Bob,  the  question  is  whether  we  shall  make 
fools  of  ourselves  or  not." 

"  Just  as  you  say,  Bill.  I  'm  al  'ys  ready  for  anything 
that  turns  up." 

"  Bob,  if  that  woman  loves  you  more  than  me,"  said 
Mayfield,  "  take  her.     1  doi\'t  want  her.     But  if  she  thinks 


CHEROKEE  BOB  51 

the  most  of  nic,  no  person  ought  to  come  between  us.  I  call 
that  on  the  square." 

'*  Well,  I  do  think  considerable  of  Cynthia,  and  you  are 
not  married  to  her,  you  know,"  replied  Bob. 

"  That  makes  no  difference.  If  she  loves  me,  and  wishes 
to  live  with  me,  no  one  shall  interfere  to  prevent  it." 

"Well,  what  do  you  propose  to  do  about  it.''"  asked 
Bob,  after  a  brief  pause. 

"  Let  the  woman  decide  for  herself,"  replied  May  field. 
"  What  say  you,  Cynthia.'*     Is  it  Bob  or  me.''  " 

Thus  appealed  to,  greatly  to  the  surprise  of  Mayfield, 
Cj'nthia  replied, 

"  Well,  William,  Robert  is  settled  in  business  now,  and 
don't  you  think  he  is  better  able  to  take  care  of  me  than 
you  are.''  " 

This  reply  convinced  Mayfield  that  his  influence  over 
the  woman  was  lost.  The  quarrel  terminated  in  a  grace- 
ful surrender  to  Bob  of  all  his  claim  upon  her. 

"  You  fall  heir,"  said  he  to  his  successor,  "  to  all  the 
traps  and  things  there  are  around  here." 

Cherokee  Bob  insisted  upon  paying  for  them ;  and 
Cynthia,  true  to  the  course  of  life  she  was  pursuing,  tried 
to  soften  the  pangs  of  separation  from  her  old  lover  by 
reiterating  the  question  if  he  did  not  "  think  it  the  best 
thing  that  could  be  done  under  the  circumstances." 

Cherokee  Bob  forced  a  generous  purse  upon  Mayfield, 
who  left  him  with  the  parting  injunction  to  take  good  care 
of  the  girl. 

The  woman  shed  some  tears  and,  as  we  shall  see  at  a  later 
stage  of  this  history,  showed  by  her  return  to  Mayfield  that 
she  entertained  a  real  affection ;  and  when,  a  year  later, 
she  heard  of  his  violent  death,  was  heard  to  say  that  she 
would  kill  his  murderer  whenever  opportunity  afforded. 

An  explanation  of  the  circumstances  under  which  Bob 
became  "  settled  in  business  "  is  not  the  least  interesting 
part  of  this  narrative.    The  senior  proprietor  of  the  lead- 


52     VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

in^  saloon  in  Oro  Fino  diet!  a  few  days  before  Bob's 
arrival.  He  was  indebted  to  Bob  for  borrowed  money. 
Calling  upon  tlie  surviving  partner  soon  after  his  arrival, 
Bob  informed  him  of  the  indebtedness,  and  declared  his 
intention  of  appropriating  the  saloon  and  its  contents  in 
payment. 

"  How  much,"  inquired  the  man,  "  did  you  lend  my  part- 
ner.''   I  '11  settle  with  you,  and  pay  liberal  interest."  ^ 

"  That 's  not  the  idee,"  rejoined  Bob.  "  Do  you  think  me 
fool  enough  to  lend  a  fellow  five  hundred  dollars,  and  then 
after  it  increases  to  five  thousand,  square  the  account  with  a 
return  of  what  I  lent  and  a  little  more?  That  's  not  my 
way  of  doing  biz.  How  much  stock  have  you  got  here  on 
hand  ?  " 

Bob  carefully  connnitted  to  writing  the  invoice  verbally 
furnished. 

"  Now,"  said  he,  putting  the  uienioranduni  in  his  pocket, 
"  I  '11  hold  you  responsible  for  all  these  traps  —  the  whole 
outfit.  You  've  got  to  close  up  and  get  out  of  this  without 
any  delay.  I  '11  give  you  twenty-four  hours  to  do  it  in. 
You  must  then  deliver  everything  safe  into  my  hands." 

The  unfortunate  saloon-keeper  knew  that  the  law  as  ad- 
ministered in  that  mountain  town  would  afford  him  no  re- 
dress. He  also  knew  that  to  refuse  compliance  with  the 
demand  of  Cherokee  Bob,  however  unjust,  would  precip- 
itate a  quarrel  which  would  probably  cost  him  his  life. 
So  when  Bob,  accompanied  by  two  or  three  confederates, 
came  the  next  morning  to  the  saloon  to  take  possession, 
he  was  prepared  to  submit  to  the  imposition  without  re- 
sistance. Walking  within  the  bar,  Cherokee  Bob  emptied 
the  money  drawer  and  gave  the  contents  to  his  victim.  He 
then  invited  his  friends  to  drink  to  the  success  of  the  new 
"  outfit,"  and  finding  himself  in  undisturbed  occupancy,  in- 
creased the  amount  of  his  gift  to  the  man  he  had  expelled 
to  several  hundred  dollars.  This  was  the  manner  in  which 
he  became,  as  Cynthia  said,  "  settled  in  business." 


CHAPTER  VI 

FLORENCE 

FLORENCE  was  now  the  established  headquarters  of 
the  robbers.  Its  isolated  location,  its  distance  from 
the  seat  of  government,  its  mountain  surroundings,  and, 
more  than  all,  its  utter  destitution  of  power  to  enforce  law 
and  order,  gave  it  peculiar  fitness  as  a  base  for  the  criminal 
and  bloody  operations  of  the  desperate  gang  which  in- 
fested it.  At  all  hours  of  the  day  and  night  some  of  them 
were  to  be  seen  at  the  two  saloons  kept  by  Cherokee  Bob 
and  Cyrus  Skinner.  When  one  company  disappeared 
another  took  its  place,  and  at  no  time  were  there  less  than 
twenty  or  thirty  of  these  desperadoes  at  one  or  both  of 
their  haunts,  plotting  and  contriving  deeds  of  plunder  and 
robbery  which  involved  the  hard  earnings,  possibly  the 
lives,  of  many  of  the  fortunate  miners  of  the  vicinity.  The 
crowd  from  both  East  and  West  had  arrived.  The  town 
was  full  of  gold-hunters.  Expectation  lighted  up  the  coun- 
tenance of  every  newcomer.  Few  had  yet  realized  the 
utter  despair  of  failure  in  a  mining  camp.  In  the  presence 
of  vice  in  all  its  forms,  men  who  were  staid  and  exem- 
plary at  home  laid  aside  their  morality  like  a  useless  gar- 
ment and  yielded  to  the  seductive  influences  spread  for 
their  ruin.  The  gambling  shops  and  hurdy-gurdy  saloons 
—  beheld  for  the  first  time  by  many  of  these  fortune- 
seekers  —  lured  them  on  step  by  step,  until  many  of  them 
abandoned  all  thought  of  the  object  they  had  in  pursuit, 
for  lives  of  shameful  and  criminal  indulgence. 

The  condition  of  society  thus  produced  was  fatal  to  all 

53 


.54     VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

attempts  at  organization,  either  for  protection  or  good 
order.  Wholly  unrestrained  by  fear  or  conscience,  the  rob- 
bers carried  on  their  operations  in  the  full  blaze  of  mid- 
day. Affrays  were  of  daily  occurrence,  and  robberies  took 
place  in  the  public  streets.  Charley  Harper,  the  acknowl- 
edged chief,  stained  with  the  darkest  crimes,  walked  the 
streets  with  the  boldness  and  confidence  of  one  who  glories 
in  liis  iniquity.  Peaceable,  honest,  well-meaning  citizens, 
completely  overawed,  were  fortunate  to  escape  insult  or 
abuse,  as  they  passed  to  and  fro  in  pursuit  of  their  occu- 
pations. Woe  to  the  unfortunate  miner  who  entered  the 
town  if  it  were  known  or  believed  that  there  was  any 
treasure  on  his  person!  If  not  robbed  on  the  spot,  or 
lured  into  a  hurdy-gurdy  saloon,  or  cheated  at  a  gambling 
table,  he  was  waylaid  by  disguised  ruffians  on  his  return 
to  his  camp,  and  by  threats  and  violence,  or  when  these 
failed,  by  death  itself,  relieved  of  his  hard-bought  earn- 
ings. For  one  of  these  sufferers  to  recognize  and  expose 
any  of  his  assailants  was  simply  to  insure  death  at  his 
hands  the  first  convenient  opportunity. 

One  of  these  side  exploits  was  marked  by  features  of  pe- 
culiar atrocity.  An  aged,  eccentric  German  miner,  who  lived 
alone  in  a  little  cabin  three  miles  from  town,  was  supposed 
to  have  a  considerable  amount  of  gold  dust  concealed  in 
his  dwelling.  One  morning,  early  in  August,  a  neighbor 
discovered  that  the  house  had  been  violently  entered.  The 
door  was  broken  and  scattered  in  pieces.  Entering,  he 
beheld  the  mangled  corpse  of  the  old  man  lying  amid  a 
general  wreck  of  bedding,  boxes,  and  trunks.  The  remains 
of  a  recent  h're  in  a  corner  bore  evidence  of  the  failure 
of  the  design  of  the  robbers  to  conceal  their  crime  by  a 
general  conflagration.  The  miners  were  exasperated  at 
an  act  of  such  wanton  and  unprovoked  barbarity.  A 
coroner's  jury  was  summoned  and  such  an  inquest  held  as 
men  In  fear  of  their  lives  dared  to  venture.     The  verdict, 


FLORENCE  55 

us  might  have  been  anticipated,  was  "  murdered  by  some 
person  or  persons  unknown."  Here  the  aflfair  has  rested 
ever  since. 

Acts  of  violence  and  bloodshed  were  not  unfrequent 
among  the  robbers  themselves.  Soon  after  the  murder  of 
the  German,  a  company  of  them,  who  had  been  gambling 
all  night  at  one  of  the  saloons,  broke  up  in  a  quarrel  at 
sunrise.  Before  they  reached  the  street,  a  revolver  in  the 
hands  of  Brockie  was  discharged,  killing  instantly  one  of 
the  departing  brawlers.  The  murderer  surrendered  him- 
self to  a  justice  of  the  peace,  and  escaped  upon  the  singu- 
lar plea  that  the  shot  was  accidental  and  did  not  hit  the 
person  he  intended  to  kill.  One  of  the  jury,  in  a  letter  to 
a  friend  wrote :  "  The  verdict  gave  universal  satisfac- 
tion, the  feeling  over  the  homicide  among  good  citizens  be- 
ing that  Brockie  had  done  a  good  thing.  If  he  had  killed 
two  of  the  ruffians  instead  of  one,  and  then  hung  himself, 
good  men  would  have  been  better  pleased." 

Hickey,  the  intended  victim,  was  one  of  the  worst  men  in 
the  band.  The  year  following  this  occurrence,  in  a  fit  of 
anger  induced  by  intoxication,  at  a  store  in  Placerville,  he 
made  a  desperate  assault  upon  a  peaceable,  inoffensive  in- 
dividual who  was  known  by  the  name  of  "  Snapping  Andy." 
Hurriedly  snatching  a  pickhandle  from  a  barrel,  Andy, 
by  two  or  three  well-directed  blows,  brought  his  career 
of  crime  and  infamy  to  a  bloody  close. 

For  some  reason,  probably  to  place  him  beyond  the 
reach  of  the  friends  of  the  murdered  robber,  Brockie  was 
assigned  to  a  new  position.  Ostensibly  to  establish  a 
ferry  at  the  mouth  of  White  Bird  Creek,  a  few  miles  from 
town,  but  really  for  the  purpose  of  furnishing  a  conve- 
nient rendezvous  for  his  companions,  he  took  up  his  abode 
there.  It  was  on  the  line  of  travel  between  Florence  and 
a  gold  discovery  reputed  to  have  been  made  on  a  tributary 
of  the  Boise  River. 


5G     VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

About  the  iniddle  of  Scptcuibcr,  Arthur  Chapman,  son 
of  the  surveyor-general  of  Oregon,  while  waiting  for  fer- 
riage, was  brutally  assaulted  by  Brockie,  who  rushed 
towards  him  with  pistol  and  knife,  swearing  that  he  would 
"  shoot  him  as  full  of  holes  as  a  sieve,  and  then  cut  him 
into  sausage  meat."  With  an  axe  which  he  seized  upon 
the  instant.  Chapman  clove  his  skull  to  the  chin.  Brockie 
fell  dead  in  his  tracks,  another  witness  to  the  fulfilment  of 
that  terrible  denunciation,  **  Whoso  sheddeth  man's  blood, 
by  man  shall  his  blood  be  shed."    Chapman  was  acquitted. 

It  will  not  be  deemed  out  of  place  to  record  here  the  des- 
perate fortune  of  one  Matt  Bledsoe,  who  became  notorious 
as  aji  independent  freebooter,  and  killed  several  persons  in 
the  valley  of  the  Upper  Sacramento  and  Upper  Wil- 
lamette. His  bloody  character  preceded  his  arrival  at 
Florence  in  the  Fall  of  1861.  lie  acknowledged  no  al- 
legiance to  any  band,  and  avowed  as  a  ruling  principle  that 
he  would  "  as  soon  kill  a  man  as  eat  his  breakfast."  While 
engaged  in  a  game  of  cards  with  a  miner  at  a  ranche  on 
White  Bird  Creek  in  October,  1861,  he  provoked  an  alterca- 
tion, but  the  miner  being  armed,  he  did  not,  as  was  usual 
with  him,  follow  it  up  by  an  attack.  The  next  morning, 
while  the  miner  was  going  to  the  creek,  Bledsoe  shot  and 
killed  him.  Mounting  his  horse  he  rode  rapidly  to  Walla 
Walla,  surrendered  to  the  authorities,  asked  for  a  trial, 
and  on  his  own  statement  that  he  "  had  killed  a  man  in 
self-defence,"  was  acquitted. 

A  leap  forward  in  his  history  to  twelve  o'clock  of  a 
cold  winter  night  of  18(55  finds  this  same  villain  in  com- 
j)any  with  another,  each  with  a  courtesan  beside  him,  seated 
at  a  ta!)le  in  an  oyster  saloon  in  Portland.  Some  angry 
wonls  between  the  women  soon  involved  the  men  in  a 
quarrel,  which  Bledsoe  brought  to  a  speedy  termination 
by  a  fatal  blow  upon  the  head  of  his  antagonist.  He  was 
immediate] V    arrested,    tried,    convicted    of   njanslaughtcr. 


FLORENCE  57 

and  sentenced  to  the  pcnitciitlfiry  for  a  long  term  of  years. 
During  tlie  following  Fall  he  escaped,  was  rearrested,  and 
after  trial,  returned  to  prison  to  serve  out  a  prolonged 
sentence. 

Perhaps  in  the  early  history  of  no  part  of  our  country 
were  greater  difficulties  overcome  in  moving  from  one  place 
to  another  than  in  the  mining  districts  of  Oregon  and 
Idaho.  Essentially  a  mountain  region,  and  in  all  portions 
of  it  away  from  the  narrow  valleys  formed  by  the  streams 
filled  with  the  remains  of  extensive  volcanic  action,  its  sur- 
face, besides  being  broken  into  deep  canons,  lofty  ridges, 
inaccessible  precipices,  impassable  streams,  and  impene- 
trable lava  beds,  was  also  covered  everywhere  with  the 
sharp  points  and  fissured  hummocks  which  were  cast  out 
during  a  long  and  active  period  of  primeval  eruption. 
There  were  no  natural  roads  in  any  direction.  The  trail 
of  the  Indian  was  full  of  obstacles,  often  indirect  and  gen- 
erally impracticable.  To  travel  with  vehicles  of  any  sort 
was  absolutely  impossible.  The  pack-animal  was  the  only 
available  resource  for  transportation.  The  miner  would 
bind  all  his  earthly  gear  on  the  back  of  a  mule  or  a  burro 
and  grapple  with  obstructions  as  they  appeared,  cutting 
his  way  through  forests  almost  interminable,  and  exposing 
himself  to  dangers  as  tr3nng  to  his  fortitude  as  to  his  in- 
genuity. The  merchant  who  wished  to  transport  goods, 
the  saloon-keeper  who  had  liquors  and  billiard  tables,  the 
hotel-keeper  whose  furniture  was  necessary,  all  had  to  em- 
ploy- pack-animals  as  the  only  means  of  transportation 
from  the  towns  on  the  Columbia  to  the  mining  camps  of 
the  interior.  The  owner  of  a  train  of  pack-animals  was 
always  certain  of  profitable  employment.  His  life  was  pre- 
carious, his  subsistence  poor,  his  responsibilities  enor- 
mous. He  threaded  the  most  dangerous  passes,  and 
incurred  the  most  fearful  risks, —  for  all  of  which  he 
received  adequate  compensation. 


58     VIGILANTE  DAYS  xVXD  WAYS 

The  pack-train  was  always  a  lively  feature  in  the  gi- 
gantic mountain  iictncry  of  Oregon  and  Idaho.  A  train 
of  fifty  or  one  liundred  animals,  composed  about  equally 
of  mules  and  burros,  each  heavily  laden,  the  experienced 
animal  in  the  lead  picking  the  way  for  those  in  the  rear 
amid  the  rocks,  escarpments,  and  precipices  of  a  loft}' 
mountain  side,  was  a  spectacle  of  thrilling  interest.  At 
times,  the  least  mis-step  would  have  precipitated  some  un- 
fortunate animal  hundreds  of  feet  down  the  steep  declivity, 
dashing  him  to  pieces  on  the  rocks  below.  Fortunately 
the  cautious  and  sure  tread  of  these  faithful  creatures  ren- 
dered such  an  accident  of  very  rare  occurrence,  though  to 
the  person  who  for  the  first  time  beheld  them  in  motion  the 
feeling  was  ever  present  that  they  could  not  escape  it.  The 
arrival  of  one  of  these  large  trains  in  a  mining  camp  pro- 
duced greater  excitement  among  the  inhabitants  than  any 
other  event,  and  the  calculations  upon  their  departure  from 
the  Columbia  River  and  their  appearance  in  the  interior 
towns  were  made  and  anticipated  with  nearly  as  much  cer- 
tainty as  if  they  were  governed  by  a  published  time-table. 

The  confidence  of  the  owner  of  a  train  of  pack-animals 
in  their  sagacity  and  sure-footedness  relieved  him  of  all 
fear  of  accident  by  travel,  but  he  could  never  feel  as  well 
assured  against  the  attacks  of  robbers.  All  the  men  in 
charge  of  a  train  were  well  armed  and  in  momentary  expec- 
tation of  a  surprise.  Frequently  on  the  return  trips  they 
were  entrusted  by  merchants  with  large  amounts  of  gold 
dust.  Opportunities  of  this  character  seldom  escaped  the 
vigilance  of  the  robbers, —  and  any  defect  in  the  police  of 
the  (Kparting  train  insured  an  attack  upon  it  in  some  of 
the  diflicult  passes  on  its  route  to  the  river. 

The  packer  of  a  train  belonging  to  Neil  McClinchey,  a 
well-known  mercantile  operator  of  the  ITpper  Columbia, 
in  October,  18(52,  when  four  days  out  from  Florence,  on 
his  return  to  Walla  "Walla,  was  stopped  by  a  masked  party 


FLORENCE  59 

of  which  Harper  was  supposed  to  be  the  leader,  and  for 
want  of  sufficient  force  robbed  of  fourteen  pounds  of  gold. 
As  he  gave  the  treasure  into  the  hands  of  the  assailants, 
the  villain  who  took  it  said  in  a  consoling  tone,  "  That 's 
sensible.  If  every  man  was  as  reasonable  as  you  things 
would  go  along  smoother." 

Shortly  after  this  robbery,  Joseph  and  John  Berry 
were  returning  to  the  river  with  their  train.  They  had 
gone  but  forty  miles  from  Florence,  when  they  were  con- 
fronted by  three  men  in  masks,  who,  with  levelled  pistols, 
commanded  them  to  throw  up  their  hands.  Seeing  that 
resistance  was  useless  they  obeyed,  and  were  relieved  of 
eleven  hundred  dollars.  The  packers  recognized  the  voices 
of  David  English  and  William  Peoples, —  and  the  third 
one  was  afterwards  ascertained  to  be  Nelson  Scott.  The 
victims  returned  with  all  possible  expedition  to  Lewiston, 
where  the  report  of  their  loss  excited  the  most  intense 
indignation. 


CHAPTER  VII 

FIRST  VIGILANCE  COMMITTEE 

AS  soon  as  the  Bcrrys  were  assured  of  the  identity  of 
the  viHains  wlio  liad  robbed  them  they  appealed  to  the 
people  to  assist  in  their  capture.  The  robbers  had 
stripped  them  of  all  their  hard  earnings,  and  they  had  the 
sympathy  of  every  honest  man  in  the  community.  Noth- 
ing more  was  needed  to  kindle  into  a  flame  of  popular 
excitement  the  long-pent-up  fires  of  smothered  indigna- 
tion. Public  sentiment  was  clamorous  for  the  capture  and 
punishment  of  the  robbers.  It  gathered  strength  day  by 
day,  until  it  became  the  all-absorbing  topic  everywhere. 
Men  assembled  on  the  street  corners,  in  the  stores,  in  the 
saloons,  and  at  the  outside  mining  camps  to  compare 
views  and  consult  upon  measures  of  relief.  Meantime,  sev- 
eral parties  whose  faith  in  innnediate  action  was  stronger 
than  in  consultation,  set  out  in  pursuit  of  the  robbers. 

From  the  fact  that  they  had  passed  south  of  Lewiston 
it  was  believed  tlu-y  had  gone  down  the  Columbia.  Dis- 
tributing themselves  along  the  different  roads  and  trails 
in  that  direction,  the  pursuers  made  diligent  search  for 
them  in  every  nook  and  corner  which  could  aflFord  them 
a  hiding-place.  Their  diligence  was  successful.  The  rob- 
bers had  separated,  but  were  arrested  in  detail,  —  Peoples 
at  Walla  Walla,  Scott  on  Dry  Creek,  near  there,  and  Eng- 
lish at    Wallula,  forty  miles  distant  on  the  Cohnnbia. 

The  only  surprise  they  manifested  upon  being  arrested 
was  at  the  temerity  of  their  captors.  In  a  community 
wliich  had  so  long  held  tlu-m  in  fear,  any  legal  interference 

()0 


FIRST  VIGILANCE  COMMITTEE    61 

witli  their  business  was  deemed  by  tlicni  an  outrage.  They 
did  not  pause  to  inquire  whether  t^ieir  reign  was  near  its 
termination,  nor  think  that  perhaps  the  people  had  de- 
cided as  between  longer  submission  to  their  villainies  and 
condign  punishment  for  their  actual  crimes.  If  they  had, 
their  efforts  to  escape  would  have  been  immediate.  As  It 
was,  they  rested  easy,  and  reflected  savagely  upon  the  re- 
venge In  store  for  their  captors  after  their  friends  had 
effected  their  rescue. 

They  were  taken  in  irons  to  Walla  Walla.  Judge  Smith 
ordered  their  removal  to  Florence  for  trial.  Such  was  the 
indignation  of  the  citizens  of  Lewiston  that  on  their  arri- 
val there  it  was  determined  they  should  be  tried  by  the 
people.  All  confidence  In  the  law  and  the  courts  was  lost. 
Accordingly  a  committee  was  appointed  to  Investigate  the 
circumstances  of  the  robbery  and  declare  the  punishment. 
The  prisoners  were  taken  in  charge  by  the  committee, 
and  confined  In  an  unfinished  building  on  the  bank  of  the 
Clearwater,  which  was  strongly  guarded.  To  make  their 
work  thorough  and  terrify  others  of  the  band  who  were 
known  to  be  prowling  about  the  saloons  of  Lewiston,  a 
number  of  persons  were  appointed,  with  instructions  to 
effect  their  Immediate  arrest.  In  anticipation  of  this 
course  all  suspected  persons  except  one  escaped  by  flight. 
This  one,  known  by  the  name  of  "  Happy  Harry,"  was 
a  simple  fellow,  who  denied  all  association  with  the  band, 
confessed  to  a  few  petty  offences,  and  was  discharged  on 
condition  that  he  would  Instantly  leave  and  never  return 
to  the  country.     He  has  never  been  heard  of  since. 

One  of  the  shrewdest  of  the  gang,  George  Lane,  whc 
from  a  personal  deformity  was  called  "  Club  Foot  George," 
well  known  as  a  robber  and  horse-thief,  escaped  arrest  by 
surrendering  himself  to  the  commandant  of  Fort  Lapwai 
(a  United  States  post  twelve  miles  distant),  who  con- 
fined him  in  the  guard  house. 


62     VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

The  final  disposition  of  the  three  villains  in  custody  was 
delayed  until  the  next  day.  A  strong  guard  of  well-armed 
men  surrounded  their  prison.  Just  after  midnight  the 
sleeping  inhabitants  of  the  town  were  roused  by  several 
shots  fired  in  the  direction  of  the  place  of  confinement.  In 
a  few  minutes  the  streets  were  filled  with  citizens.  A 
former  friend  of  Peoples,  one  Marshall,  who  kept  a  hotel 
in  town,  had,  in  attempting  his  rescue,  fired  upon  the 
guard.  In  return  he  received  a  shot  in  his  arm,  and  was 
prostrated  by  a  blow  from  a  clubbed  musket.  The  cause 
of  the  mih'e  being  explained,  the  people  withdrew,  leav- 
ing the  sentinels  at  their  posts. 

The  next  morning  at  an  early  hour  the  people  gathered 
around  the  prison.  The  guards  were  gone  and  the  door 
ajar.  Unable  to  restrain  their  curiosity,  and  fearful  that 
the  robbers  had  been  rescued,  they  pushed  the  door  wide 
open.  There,  hanging  by  the  neck,  stark  and  cold,  they 
beheld  the  bodies  of  the  three  desperadoes.  Justice  had 
been  anticipated,  and  the  first  Vigilance  Committee  of  the 
northern  mines  had  commenced  its  work.  No  one  knew 
or  cared  who  had  done  it,  but  all  felt  that  it  was  right, 
and  the  community  breathed  freer  than  at  any  former 
period  of  its  history. 

Intelligence  of  the  execution,  with  the  usual  exaggera- 
tion, spread  far  and  wide  through  the  mining  camps.  It 
was  received  with  approval  by  the  sober  citizens,  but  filled 
the  robber  horde  with  consternation.  Charley  Harper, 
while  on  his  way  from  Florence  to  Lewiston  to  gather 
full  particulars,  met  a  mountaineer. 

"  Stranger,"  he  inquired,  ''  what 's  the  news  ?  " 

"  I  s'pose  you  've  heard  about  the  hanging  of  them  fel- 
lers?" 

"  Heard  something.     What 's  the  particulars  ?  " 

"  Well,  Bill  Peoples,  Dave  English,  and  Xels  Scott  have 
gone  in.     They  strung  'em  up  like  dried  salmon.     Happy 


FIRST  VIGILANCE  COMMITTEE    03 

Harry  got  out.  of  tlic  way  In  time;  but  if  they  get  Club 
Foot  George,  his  life  won't  be  worth  a  cent.  They  're  after 
a  lot  more  of  'em  up  in  Florence." 

"  Do  you  know  wIm)  all  they  're  after?  "  asked  Harper. 

"  Yes.  Charley  Harper  's  the  big  chief  they  're  achin' 
for  the  most,  but  the  story  now  is  that  he 's  already 
hanged.  A  feller  went  Into  town  day  before  yesterday, 
and  said  he  saw  him  strung  up  out  here  on  Camas  Prairie. 
Did  you  hear  anything  of  it  back  on  the  road.''  " 

Harper  needed  no  further  information.  He  felt  that 
the  country  was  too  hot  to  hold  him,  and  that  the  blood- 
hounds were  on  his  track.  As  soon  as  the  miner  was  out 
of  sight,  he  turned  to  the  right,  crossed  the  Clearwater 
some  miles  above  Lewiston,  and  pursued  a  trail  to  Colville 
on  the  Upper  Columbia,  where  we  will  take  leave  of  him 
for  the  present.  y 


CHAPTER  VIII 
NEW  GOLD  DISCOVERIES 

WHEN  the  rumored  discovery  in  the  Summer  of 
1861  of  extensive  gold  placers  on  Salmon  River  was 
confirmed,  the  intelligence  spread  through  the  Territories 
and  Mississippi  States  like  wildfire.  Thousands  of  30ung 
men,  thrown  out  of  employment  by  the  war,  and  other  thou- 
sands who  dreaded  the  evils  which  that  great  conflict 
would  bring  upon  the  nation,  and  still  others  actuated 
by  a  thirst  for  gain,  utilized  their  available  resources  in 
providing  means  for  an  immediate  migration  to  the  land 
of  promise.  Before  midsummer  they  had  started  on  the 
long  and  perilous  journey.  How  little  did  they  know  of 
its  exposures !  The  deserts,  destitute  of  water  and  grass, 
the  alkaline  plains  where  food  and  drink  were  alike  affected 
by  the  poisonous  dust,  the  roving  bands  of  hostile  Indians, 
the  treacherous  quicksands  of  river  fords,  the  danger  and 
difficulty  of  the  mountain  passes,  the  death  of  their  com- 
panions, their  cattle,  and  their  horses,  breakage  of  their 
vehicles,  angry  and  often  violent  personal  altercations,  — 
all  these  fled  in  the  light  of  the  summer  sun,  the  vernal 
beauty  of  the  plains,  the  delightfully  pure  atmosphere 
which  wooed  them  day  by  day  farther  away  from  the 
abode  of  civilization  and  the  protection  of  law.  The  most 
fortunate  of  this  army  of  adventurers  suffered  from  some 
of  these  fruitful  causes  of  disaster.  So  certain  were  they 
in  some  form  to  occur,  that  a  successful  completion  of  the 
journey  was  simply  nn  escape  from  death.  The  story 
of  the   Indian  murders  and   cruelties  alone,  which   befoll 

61 


NEW  GOLD  DISCOVERIES  65 

hundreds  of  these  hapless  emigrants,  would  fill  volumes. 
Every  mile  of  the  several  routes  across  the  continent  was 
marked  by  the  decaying  carcasses  of  oxen  and  horses, 
which  had  perished  during  the  period  of  this  hegira  to 
the  gold  mines.  Three  months  with  mules  and  four  with 
oxen  were  necessary  to  make  the  journey,  —  a  journey 
now  completed  in  five  days  from  ocean  to  ocean  by  the 
railroad. 

Some  of  the  earliest  of  these  expeditions,  after  entering 
the  unexplored  region  which  afterwards  became  Idaho 
and  ^lontana,  were  arrested  by  information  that  it  woul(i 
be  impossible  to  cross,  with  teams,  the  several  mountain 
ranges  between  them  and  the  mines.  This  discouragement 
was  followed  up  by  intelligence  that  the  placers  were 
overrun  by  a  crowd  of  gold  hunters  from  California  and 
Oregon,  and  that  large  bands  of  prospectors  were  spread- 
ing over  the  adjacent  territory.  Swift  on  the  heels  of  this 
came  the  rumor  that  new  placers  had  been  found  at  Deer 
Lodge,  on  the  east  side  of  the  mountains. 

The  idea  was  readily  adopted  that  the  country  was 
filled  with  gold  placers, —  that  it  was  not  necessary  to  pur- 
sue the  track  of  actual  discovery,  but  that  each  man  could 
discover  his  own  mine.  Thus  believing,  the  stream  of  emi- 
gration diverged,  —  some  crossing  the  range  to  Fort 
Lemhi  on  the  Lower  Salmon,  and  others  pursuing  a  more 
southerly  course,  with  the  hope  of  striking  an  old  trail 
leading  from  Salt  Lake  to  Bitter  Root  and  Deer  Lodge 
valleys.  Some  of  this  latter  party  remained  on  Grass- 
hopper Creek  near  the  large  canon,  where  they  made  prom- 
ising discoveries.  The  others  went  on  to  Deer  Lodge, 
but  being  disappointed  in  the  placers  there,  rejoined  their 
companions  and  gave  to  their  placer  the  name  of  Beaver 
Head  Diggings,  —  that  being  the  name  given  by  Lewis 
and  Clark  to  the  river  into  which  the  creek  empties. 

While  these  discoveries  were  in  progress   on   the  east 


66     VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

side  of  the  mountains,  a  prospecting  party  which  had  been 
organized  at  Florence  under  the  leadership  of  a  C'ali- 
fornian  by  the  name  of  Grimes,  discovered  the  mines  on 
the  Boise  River.  They  were  one  hundred  and  fifty  miles 
south  of  Florence.  Grimes  and  his  party  sunk  their  first 
shaft  fifteen  miles  northwest  of  the  site  of  Idaho  City. 
While  preparing  to  extend  their  explorations,  they  un- 
fortunately fell  into  an  Indian  ambuscade  and  their  leader 
was  slain. 

Intelligence  of  the  Beaver  Head  and  Boise  discoveries 
unsettled  all  local  projects  for  building  up  the  towns  of 
Florence,  Elk  City,  and  Oro  Fino.  They  were  immedi- 
ately deserted  by  all  who  could  leave  without  sacrifice. 
West  Bannack,  at  Boise,  and  East  Bannack,  at  Beaver 
Head,  sprung  into  existence  as  if  by  enchantment. 

Ridgely  had  now  so  far  recovered  from  his  wound  as  to 
be  able  to  travel.  Accompanied  by  him  and  Charley 
Reeves,  Henry  Plummer  left  the  vicinity  of  Florence  and 
went  to  Elk  City.  There  he  met  with  several  of  his 
old  California  acquaintances  who  were  familiar  with  his 
early  history.  Fearful  of  remaining  lest  they  should  de- 
liver him  up  to  the  authorities  and  cause  him  to  be  re- 
turned to  California,  or  that  a  Vigilance  Committee  would 
visit  him  with  heavier  punishment,  he  suddenly  departed, 
and  ten  days  later  made  his  appearance  at  Deer  Lodge. 
He  found  the  camp  full  of  needy  adventurers,  the  mines 
unpromising,  and  the  chances  few  for  replenishing  his 
fortune  by  either  gambling  or  robbery.  After  spending 
a  few  days  of  constantly  increasing  discouragement  he 
started  in  company  with  Jack  Cleveland  for  Fort  Ben- 
ton, intending  to  go  down  the  Missouri  by  the  first  boat. 
Fortunate  would  it  have  been  had  he  carried  this  design 
into  execution.  If  it  would  not  have  saved  him  from  a 
felon's  death,  it  would  have  preserved  the  lives  of  those 
who  afterwards  became  his  victims. 


NEW  GOLD  DISCOVERIES  67 

Sixty  miles  from  Benton,  their  horses  jaded  with  travel, 
the  two  men  stopped  at  the  Government  farm  on  Sun 
Uiver  for  a  few  days'  rest.  In  this  secluded  valley  they 
were  out  of  the  way  of  pursuers.  Carpeted  with  bunch 
grass,  it  afforded  grazing  for  their  half-starved  horses, 
and  in  Mr.  Vail,  the  man  in  charge  of  the  farm,  they  found 
a  very  hospitable  host.  Divided  centrally  by  the  large 
and  peaceful  river,  the  valley  stretched  away  on  either 
side  to  numberless  plateaus,  remarkable  for  the  uniform 
height  and  tabular  recession  with  which  they  rose  to  the 
summits  of  the  lofty  foothills,  which  in  their  turn  swelled 
gradually  into  a  circumference  of  heaven-kissing  moun- 
tains. Nothing  but  a  few  forests  were  wanting  to  make 
the  scene  one  of  unparalleled  grandeur.  These  were  meas- 
urably supplied  by  the  parks  of  cottonwood  which 
stretched  along  either  bank  of  the  river,  affording  shelter 
for  the  herds  of  elk,  antelope,  and  deer  that  roamed  un- 
harmed over  the  boundless  solitude. 

Here,  sheltered  by  the  arms  of  kind  relatives,  Henry 
Plummer  first  saw  the  only  being  which  inspired  his  bosom 
with  virtuous  love.  A  young,  innocent,  and  beautiful  girl, 
artless  and  loving  as  a  child,  won  by  his  attention  and 
gentlemanly  deportment,  and  the  tale,  seductive  as  that 
poured  by  the  serpent  into  the  ear  of  Eve,  which  he  told 
of  his  love,  against  the  advice  of  her  sister  and  friends, 
crowned  his  happiness  with  her  heart  and  hand.  No  sto- 
ries of  his  past  career,  no  terrible  picture  of  the  future, 
no  tears  and  petitions,  could  stay  the  sacrifice.  She  felt 
the  sentiment  so  beautifully  expressed  by  Moore, 

"  I  know  not,  I  ask  not,  if  guilt 's  in  that  heart, 
I   but  know  that   I  love  thee,  whatever  thou  art,"  —  ^^^ 

and  under  its  influence  she  linked  her  fortunes  with  those 
of  the  robber,  murderer,  and  outlaw,  in  the  holiest  of 
human  ties. 


68     VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

A  quarrel,  of  which  this  young  lady  was  the  innocent 
cause,  took  place  between  Pluniincr  and  Cleveland  before 
the  marriage  of  the  former.  Their  old  friendship  was 
never  reestablished.  Often  during  their  residence  at  Sun 
River  an  exchange  of  bitter  epithets  only  relieved  their 
pent-up  wrath.  Afraid  of  each  other,  neither  would  leave 
the  farm  alone.  Accordingl}'  they  went  to  Bannack  in 
company,  early  in  the  Winter  of  1862-63.  There  we  will 
leave  them  while  we  return  to  Florence  to  inquire  after 
the  fortunes  of  Cherokee  Bob,  whom  we  left  a  few  chapters 
ago  "  settled  in  business." 


CHAPTER  IX 

DESERTION  OF  MINING  CAMPS 

THE  decay  of  a  mining  town  is  as  sudden  and  rapid 
as  its  growth,  and  the  causes  which  occasion  it  as 
problematical.  Few,  comparatively,  of  the  great  num- 
ber of  placer  camps  in  the  Rocky  Mountains,  once  peo- 
pled with  thousands,  survive  beyond  the  third  year  of 
their  existence.  As  soon  as  the  placers  fail  to  remu- 
nerate the  miners,  they  are  abandoned.  The  crowd  de- 
parts, and  if  any  remain,  it  is  that  sober,  substantial  class 
which  is  satisfied  with  small  gain  as  the  reward  of  unceas- 
ing toil.  Intelligence  of  new  discoveries  brought  to  a  fail- 
ing placer  will  cause  the  immediate  departure  of  great 
numbers  engaged  in  working  it.  These  stampedes  are 
among  the  most  notable  features  of  mountain  life.  Some- 
times when  the  discovery  of  a  new  placer  is  announced, 
the  entire  population  of  a  mining  town  is  on  the  alert, 
each  man  striving  with  the  next  to  be  the  first  to  reach  it. 
Horses  are  saddled,  mules  packed,  sluices  abandoned,  and 
the  long  and  unmarked  route  is  filled  with  gold  hunters. 
Away  they  go,  over  mountains,  across  streams,  through 
canons  and  pine  forests,  with  the  single  object  of  making 
the  first  selection  of  a  claim  in  the  new  location.  Not 
infrequently  it  is  the  case  that  a  single  company  is  the 
first  to  learn  of  the  discovery  of  a  new  rich  placer.  If 
the  claim  it  has  worked  is  abandoned  the  succeeding 
morning,  it  is  received  by  the  camp  as  incontestable  evi- 
dence that  a  mine  of  superior  richness  has  been  found, 
—  and  hundreds  start  in  pursuit  of  the  missing  company. 

69 


70     VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

Rumor  is  a  fruitful  cause  of  stampedes.  Disappointments 
are  more  frequently  the  consequences  than  rewards. 
Instances  are  connnon  where  whole  camps  have  been 
deserted  to  follow  up  a  rumor,  been  disappointed,  and 
glad  to  return  at  last.  There  is  nothing  permanent  in 
the  life  of  a  gold  miner, —  and  beyond  the  moment, 
nothing  strong  or  abiding  in  his  associations. 

"  Whither  he  goes  or  how  he  fares, 
Nobody  knows  and  nobody  cares." 

Florence  had  suffered  from  these  causes.  The  roving 
portion  of  the  population  had  gone,  some  to  Boise,  some 
to  Bannack,  and  some  to  Deer  Lodge.  Cherokee  Bob  and 
C'yntliia  still  remained,  but  Harper  had  fled,  and  Peoples, 
English,  and  Scott  slept  the  "  sleep  that  knows  no  wak- 
ing." Bill  Willoughby,  a  suspected  member  of  Harper's 
gang,  was  Bob's  only  companion. 

The  New  Year  was  approaching.  The  good  wives  and 
daughters,  in  accordance  with  usual  custom,  proposed  that 
it  should  be  celebrated  by  a  ball,  —  a  proposition  to  which 
the  other  sex  joyfully  acceded.  Extensive  preparations 
were  made  for  the  supper,  and  the  ball-room  was  at- 
tractively decorated.  Cynthia  made  known  to  Bob  her 
desire  to  go.  He  said  in  replj',  "  You  shall  go,  and  bo 
respected  as  a  decent  woman  ought  to  be."  So  he  asked 
\Vill()Ughby  to  "  take  his  woman  to  the  ball,  and,"  said  he, 
"  if  things  don't  go  right,  just  report  to  me."  Cynthia 
assented  to  the  arrangement,  and  Willoughby  promised 
compliance.  The  guests  had  arrived  when  Cynthia,  hang- 
ing on  the  arm  of  Willoughby,  made  her  appearance. 
Scowls  and  sneers  met  them  on  every  hand.  A  general 
commotion  took  place  among  the  ladies.  In  little  groups 
of  five  or  six,  scattered  throughout  the  room,  they 
whispered  to  each  other  their  determination  to  leave  if 
Cynthia  were  permitted  to  remain.     The  managers  held  a 


DESERTION  OF  MINING  CAMPS   71 

consultation,  and  Willougliby  was  told  that  he  must  take 
Cynthia  home.     No  alternative  presenting,  he  obeyed. 

The  gentlemen  present  were  prepared  to  meet  any  fur- 
ther disturbance,  but  none  occurred,  and  the  ball  passed 
off  pleasantly.  The  next  day  Cherokee  Bob  marshalled 
his  forces  to  avenge  the  insult,  but  was  restrained  by  the 
evident  preparation  with  which  the  citizens  anticipated  his 
design.  He  and  his  companions  swaggered  around  town 
flourishing  their  pistols  and  bowie-knives,  boasting  of  their 
prowess,  but  careful  of  giving  personal  offence.  It  would 
have  been  well  for  them  had  their  resentment  cooled  here, 
but  Bob's  malice  was  not  to  be  satisfied  so  easily.  Two 
days  had  passed,  and  Cynthia's  humiliation  was  un- 
avenged. Before  the  close  of  another  it  must  be  pro- 
pitiated with  blood.  Accordingly,  the  next  morning  it  was 
agreed  between  Bob  and  Willoughby  that  they  would  pre- 
cipitate the  battle. 

The  most  efficient  leader  of  the  citizens  was  a  saloon- 
keeper by  the  name  of  Williams,  familiarly  called 
"  Jakey."  He  was  an  athletic  man,  and  a  determined 
enemy  of  the  robbers,  by  whom  he  was  held  in  great  fear. 
He  had  been  the  hero  of  more  than  one  desperate  affray, 
and  was  regarded  by  Bob  and  Willoughby  as  the  only 
obstacle  in  the  Avay  of  their  bloody  project  to  kill  the 
managers  of  the  ball.  The  first  act,  therefore,  in  their 
contemplated  tragedy  was  to  dispose  of  him.  Jakey 
at  first  sought  to  avoid  them.  They  pursued  him  from 
house  to  house,  till,  tired  of  fleeing,  he  finally  declared  he 
would  go  no  farther.  Returning  by  a  circuitous  path,  he 
was  overtaken  and  fired  upon  by  his  pursuers  while  enter- 
ing his  saloon.  He  fired  in  return,  and  springing  back, 
seized  a  loaded  shotgun,  and  rushed  into  the  street.  Mean- 
time, several  citizens  joined  in  the  fight,  which  soon  be- 
came general.  The  ruffians  found  themselves  contending 
against  fearful  odds.     Willoughby  was  slowly  retreating 


72     VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

with  his  face  to  his  assailants,  and  firing  as  rapidly  as 
possible.  Cherokee  Bob  was  pursuing  the  same  strategy 
in  an  opposite  direction.  The  twelfth  fire  exhausted  Wil- 
loughby's  pistols.  He  turned  to  run,  with  Jake}'  in 
full  pursuit.  Exhausted  from  loss  of  blood,  which  was 
pouring  from  sixteen  wounds,  he  soon  fell,  and,  throwing 
up  his  hands,  exclaimed  to  one  of  his  pursuers  who  was 
in  the  act  of  firing, 

"  For  God's  sake,  don't  shoot  any  more.  I  'n>  dying 
now,"  and  surrendered  himself  to  death. 

Bob  beat  a  retreat  at  the  first  fire.  Dodging  behind  a 
corner,  where  his  head  only  was  exposed,  he  fired  upon  his 
pursuers  until  his  pistols  were  nearly  empty.  While  aim- 
ing for  another  shot,  a  ball  fired  from  an  opposite  window 
brought  him  to  the  earth,  mortally  wounded.  He  was 
taken  to  his  saloon,  and  died  the  third  day  after  the 
affray,  in  the  full,  and  to  him,  consolatory  belief  that  he 
had  killed  Jakey  Williams  at  the  first  fire  of  his  re- 
volver. He  had  a  brother  living  at  Lewiston.  His  last 
words  were,  "  Tell  my  brother  I  have  killed  my  man  and 
gone  on  a  long  hunt."  His  real  name  was  Henry  Tal- 
bert. 

Cynthia  was  now  without  a  protector.  At  Bob's  request 
she  soon  joined  her  old  lover,  Bill  May  field,  at  Boise. 
This  reunion  was  destined  to  be  of  short  duration.  The 
following  Spring  Mayficld  went  to  Placerville,  Idaho,  for 
a  brief  sojourn,  A  (juarrel  over  a  game  of  cards  sprung 
up  between  him  and  one  Evans.  Mayfield  drew  his  re- 
volver, intending  to  settle  it  by  a  fatal  shot,  but  Evans 
ijiterposed, 

"  I  'm  not  heeled  "  —  the  mountain  phrase  for  "  I  am 
not  armed." 

"  Then  go  and  heel  yourself,"  said  Mayfield,  sheathing 
his  revolver,  "  and  look  out  the  next  time  you  meet  me, 
for  I  'm  bound  to  kill  you  at  sight.     One  of  us  must  die." 


DESERTION  OF  MINING  CAMPS    73 

The  next  day,  wliile  iMayfield  and  two  friends  were 
walking  in  tlie  suburbs,  they  came  upon  a  muddy  spot, 
across  which  a  narrow  phmk  had  been  hiid.  Tliis  necessi- 
tated crossing  it  in  single  file.  Mayfield  was  in  the  centre. 
Evans  was  in  a  cabin  beside  the  crossing,  but  a  few  feet 
distant.  Seizing  a  double-barrelled  shotgun,  he  fired  upon 
^layfield  from  his  place  of  concealment,  through  an  open 
window.  Mayfield  grasped  for  his  revolver,  but  fell  with- 
out power  to  draw  it,  exclaiming  "  I  'm  shot."  He  died  in 
two  hours,  illustrating  in  his  demise  the  Scriptural  axiom, 
"  With  what  measure  ye  mete,  it  shall  be  measured  to  you 
again.'*  Evans  was  immediately  arrested,  but  escaped 
from  jail  that  night,  and  being  furnished  with  a  horse 
by  a  friend,  fled  the  country,  and  was  never  apprehended. 

After  Mayfield's  death  Cynthia  entered  upon  that  ca- 
reer of  promiscuous  infamy  which  is  the  certain  destiny 
of  all  women  of  her  class.  It  is  written  of  her  that  "  she 
has  been  the  cause  of  more  personal  collisions  and  es- 
trangements than  any  other  woman  in  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tains." 


CHAPTER  X 

BOONE  HELM 

SOME  men  arc  villains  by  nature,  others  become  so 
by  circumstances.  Hogarth's  scries  of  pictures 
representing  in  contrast  the  career  of  two  apprentices 
illustrates  this  truth  better  than  words.  Both  commenced 
life  under  the  same  influences.  The  predominance  of  good 
and  evil  is  exhibited  by  the  natural  tendency  of  one  to 
overcome  all  unfavorable  circumstances  by  close  applica- 
tion to  business  and  by  virtuous  associations,  and  of  the 
other  to  idleness,  vicious  indulgences,  and  corrupt  com- 
panionship. The  one  becomes  Lord  Mayor  of  I^ondon, 
and  in  the  discharge  of  official  duty  passes  sentence  of 
death  upon  the  other. 

The  wretch  I  am  now  about  to  introduce  to  the  reader 
was  one  of  those  hideous  monsters  of  depravity  whom 
neither  precept  nor  example  could  have  saved  from  a  life 
of  crime.  Boone  Helm  was  a  native  of  Kentucky.  His 
parents  emigrated  to  one  of  the  newest  settlements  in  Mis- 
souri while  he  was  a  boy.  The  rough  pursuits  of  border- 
life  were  congenial  to  his  tastes.  He  excelled  in  feats  of 
physical  strength,  and  delighted  in  nothing  more  than  a 
quarrel  which  brought  his  prowess  into  full  disphiy.  He 
was  an  inordinate  drinker,  and  when  excited  by  liquor 
gave  way  to  all  the  evil  passions  of  his  nature.  One  of 
the  exploits  recorded  of  him  «as  that  of  hurling  his  bowie- 
knife  into  the  ground  and  regaining  it  with  his  horse  at 
full  speed.  On  one  occasion,  while  the  circuit  court  was 
in   session,   the   sheriff   attempted   to    arrest    him.      Helm 

74 


BOONE  HELM  75 

resisted  the  officer,  but  urging  his  horse  up  the  stairs  into 
the  court-room,  astonished  the  judge  by  demanding  with 
profane  emphasis  what  he  wanted  of  him. 

In  the  j^ear  IS-AS  he  married  a  respectable  girl,  but 
neither  her  affection  nor  the  infant  daughter  born  to  him 
a  year  later  could  prevail  with  him  to  abandon  his  vicious 
and  profligate  habits.  His  wife  sought  security  from  his 
ill-treatment  in  divorce,  which  was  readily  granted.  This 
freed  him  from  family  responsibilities,  and  he  at  once  de- 
termined to  emigrate  either  to  Texas  or  California.  Lit- 
tlcbury  Shoot,  a  neighbor,  while  Helm  was  intoxicated, 
had,  for  pacific  purposes,  promised  to  accompany  him, — 
intending  when  he  was  sober  to  avoid  the  fulfilment  of  the 
promise  by  explanation.  Helm  was  told  of  his  intention. 
He  called  upon  Shoot,  who  had  retired,  and  meeting  him 
at  the  door  of  his  house,  with  his  left  hand  on  his  shoul- 
der, in  a  friendly  tone  thus  addressed  him : 

"  So,  Littlebury,  you  've  backed  down  on  the  Texas 
question,  have  you?" 

Shoot  attempted  an  explanation,  but  was  stopped  by  the 
peremptory  demand : 

"Well,  are  j'ou  going  or  not?     Say  yes  or  no." 

"  No !  " 

At  the  utterance  of  this  reply.  Helm  buried  his  bowie- 
knife  in  the  breast  of  the  unfortunate  man,  who,  without 
a  struggle,  fell  dead  at  his  feet.  Mounting  his  horse  im- 
mediately. Helm  rode  awa3^  The  brother  of  the  victim 
and  a  few  resolute  friends  followed  in  pursuit.  They 
tracked  him  through  several  neighborhoods  and  captured 
him  by  surprise  at  an  Indian  reservation,  and  returned  him 
to  iNIonroe  County  for  trial.  He  was  convicted  of  murder ; 
but  his  conduct  was  such  while  in  confinement  as  to  raise 
serious  doubts  of  his  sanity.  After  his  conviction,  under 
the  advice  of  physicians  he  was  consigned  to  the  lunatic 
asylum,  his  conduct  meantime  being  that  of  a  quiet,  in- 


76     VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

offensive  lunatic.  His  keeper,  finding  him  harmless,  in- 
dulged him  so  far  as  to  accompany  him  on  daily  walks 
into  the  country  surrounding  the  institution.  On  one  oc- 
casion, on  some  urgent  pretence.  Helm  asked  permission 
to  enter  a  willow  copse,  which  was  readily  granted.  After- 
wards the  desire  to  enter  this  copse  whenever  he  ap- 
proached it  seemed  to  take  the  form  of  mania.  Suspecting 
no  ulterior  design,  his  keeper  indulged  him.  One  day, 
meeting  a  friend  near  the  spot,  the  keeper,  during  Helm's 
absence,  engaged  in  conversation.  Time  passed  unnoticed 
at  first,  but  as  the  stay  of  Helm  was  prolonged,  the 
keeper,  fearing  some  accident  had  befallen  him,  made  a 
rapid  search  through  the  thicket.  But  the  bird  had 
flown.  His  stratagem  was  successful.  He  was  never  after- 
ward seen  in  Missouri,  but  upon  his  escape  he  fled  imme- 
diately to  California.  Several  persons  were  killed  by  him 
while  there,  in  personal  rencontre.  At  length  he  committed 
actual  premeditated  murder,  but  escaped  arrest  by  flight. 
In  the  Spring  of  1858  he  arrived  at  Dalles,  Oregon.  Fear- 
ful of  a  requisition  for  his  return  to  California,  Helm,  in 
company  witii  Dr.  Wm.  H.  Groves,  Elijah  Burton,  Wm. 

Fletcher,  John   Martin, Field,   and  McGrani- 

gan,  attempted  a  journey  on  horseback  to  Camp  Floyd, 
Utah,  sixty  miles  southwest  of  Salt  Lake  City,  by  way  of 
Fort  Hall.  A  ride  of  several  days  brought  them  to  the 
Grand  Ronde  River.  During  that  time  they  had  become 
sufficiently  acquainted  with  each  other  to  banish  all  those 
feelings  of  distrust  natural  among  strangers  in  a  new 
country.  Helm,  who  to  his  criminal  qualities  added 
the  usual  concomitant  of  being  a  loud-mouthed  braggart, 
while  narrating  his  exploits  said  in  a  boastful  tone  to 
McGranigan: 

"  Many  's  the  poor  devil  I  've  killed,  at  one  time  or  an- 
other,— and  the  time  has  been  that  I  've  been  obliged  to 
feed  on  some  of  'em." 


BOONE  HELM  77 

"  Yes,"  replied  McGranigan,  casting  a  sinister  glance 
at  Groves,  "  and  we  '11  have  more  of  that  feasting  yet." 

The  cold  sincerity  with  which  these  words  were  uttered 
struck  a  chill  to  the  heart  of  Groves,  which  experienced 
no  relief  when  a  few  moments  afterwards  Helm  proposed 
a  plan  for  organizing  a  band  of  Snake  Indians,  and  re- 
turning with  them  on  a  predatory  excursion  against  the 
Walla  Wallas. 

"  The  Walla  Wallas,"  said  he,  "  own  about  four  thou- 
sand horses.  With  such  a  band  of  Snakes  as  we  can  easily 
organize  for  the  enterprise,  we  can  run  off  two  thousand 
of  the  best  of  those  animals,  and  after  dividing  with  the 
Indians,  take  ours  to  Salt  Lake  and  dispose  of  them  to 
advantage." 

Groves,  who  had  heard  enough  to  satisfy  him  that  a 
longer  stay  with  this  company  would  be  accompanied  by 
risks  for  which  he  had  neither  inclination  nor  fitness, 
mounted  his  horse  at  a  late  hour  that  night,  and  spurred 
back  to  the  Dalles  as  rapidly  as  possible.  On  his  arrival 
he  sent  intelligence  to  the  chief  of  the  Walla  Wallas  of 
Helm's  contemplated  foray,  warning  them  to  keep  a  care- 
ful watch  upon  their  horses.  His  plans  being  frustrated. 
Helm  remained  in  the  vicinity  till  Autumn,  when,  in  com- 
pany with  his  five  companions,  he  continued  his  journey 
to  Camp  Floyd.  Five  hundred  miles  of  this  route  lay 
through  a  wilderness  of  mountains,  unmarked  by  a  trail 
and  filled  with  hostile  Indians.  It  was  late  in  October 
when  the  party  left  Grand  Ronde  River.  The  mountains 
were  covered  with  snow.  Cold  weather  had  set  in  for  a 
season  whose  only  changes  for  the  next  six  months  would 
be  a  steady  increase  of  severities.  The  thermometer,  sel- 
dom above,  often  marked  a  temperature  thirty  or  forty 
degrees  below  zero  in  the  mountains.  The  passes  were 
snowed  up  to  the  depths  of  twenty  and  thirty  feet.  Wild 
game,  however  abundant  in  Summer,  had  retreated  to  the 


78     VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

forests  and  fastnesses  for  food  and  shelter.  Snow-storms 
and  sharp  winds  were  blinding  and  incessant.  Deep  ra- 
vines, lofty  mountains,  beetling  crags,  and  dismal  canons, 
alternated  with  impenetrable  pine  forests,  inaccessible  lava 
beds,  and  impassable  torrents,  encumbered  every  inch  of 
the  way.  Death  on  the  scaffold  or  escape  through  this 
terrible  labyrinth  gave  the  alternative  small  advantage  of 
the  penalty.  Small  as  it  was,  Helm  and  his  companions 
took  the  risk  and  plunged  into  the  mountain  wilderness. 
He  alone  escaped. 

In  the  absence  of  other  narratives  of  this  remarkable 
adventure,  I  record  his  own,  as  detailed  to  John  W.  Powell 
in  April  of  the  following  ^ear.     Mr.  Powell  says : 
"  N.  P.  Langford, 

"Dear  Sir:  On  tlie  tenth  of  April,  18.09,  I  was  on  my 
way  from  Fort  Owen,  Bitter  Root  Valley,  to  Salt  Lake  City. 
My  party  consisted  of  one  American  named  James  Misinger. 
a  Frenchman  called  '  Grand  Maison,'  a  French  half-breed 
named  Antoine,  and  three   Indians. 

"  I  had  crossed  tlie  Snake  River  just  above  Fort  Hall, 
pitched  my  lodge,  and  was  entering  to  indulge  in  a  brief 
sleep,  when  I  heard  some  one  outside  ask  in  a  loud  tone  of 
voice,  '  Who  owns  this  shebang?  '  Stepping  to  the  door  and 
looking  out,  I  saw  a  tall,  cadaverous,  sunken-eyed  man 
standing  over  me.  dressed  in  a  dirty,  dilapidated  coat  and 
shirt  and  drawers,  and  moccasins  so  worn  that  they  could 
scarcely  be  tied  to  his  feet.  Having  invited  him  in  and 
inquired  his  business,  he  told  me  substantially  the  following: 

"  His  name  was  Boone  Helm.  In  company  with  five 
otlurs  he  had  left  Dalles  City,  Oregon,  in  October,  18,")8, 
intending  to  go  to  Camp  Floyd,  Utah  Territory.  Having 
reached  the  Raft  River,  they  were  attacked  by  a  party  of 
Digger  Indians,  with  whom  they  maintained  a  running  fight 
for  several  miles,  but  none  of  the  party  was  killed  or  severely 
wounded.  Late  in  the  evening  they  reached  the  Bannack 
River,  where  they  camped,  picketed  their  horses  near  by, 
and    stationed    two   sentinels.      During  the   night   one   of  the 


BOONE  HELM  79 

sentinels  was  killed,  the  savage  who  committed  the  deed 
escaping  on  a  horse  belonging  to  the  party. 

"  Upon  consultation,  it  was  decided  that  they  had  better 
leave  that  place  as  soon  as  possible.  The  sky  at  the  time 
was  overcast  with  storm-clouds,  and  soon  after  they  got  into 
their  saddles  the  weather  culminated  in  a  snow-storm,  which 
increased  in  violence  until  it  became  terrific.  Finally,  being 
unable  to  see  am^thing  but  sheets  of  snow,  they  became 
be^nldercd,  and  knew  not  in  what  direction  they  were  pro- 
ceeding. JMorning  brought  no  relief.  In  the  midst  of  an 
ocean  of  snow,  they  were  as  oblivious  of  locality  in  daylight 
as  if  total  darkness  had  encompassed  them.  They  knew  they 
were  somewhere  between  Ross's  Fork  and  the  Bear  River, 
and   this  was  their  most  definite  knowledge. 

"  At  last  the}^  reached  Soda  Springs  on  Bear  River,  where 
familiar  landmarks  came  in  view.  They  then  travelled  up 
that  river  until  they  reached  Thomas's  Fork,  where  they 
were  forced  to  stop,  from  the  lean  and  exhausted  condition 
of  their  horses  and  the  depth  of  the  snow.  Here  they  found 
a  very  comfortable  cabin,  and  perforce  went  into  winter 
quarters. 

"  Their  provisions  soon  being  all  gone  they  commenced 
subsisting  on  their  horses,  killing  one  after  another,  until 
they  had  eaten  them  all  but  a  celebrated  race-horse  which 
had  been  valued  on  the  Upper  Columbia  at  over  a  thousand 
dollars.  Seeing  now  that  they  must  all  perish  unless  they 
soon  reached  a  point  where  supplies  could  be  obtained,  the 
race-horse  had  to  share  the  fate  of  the  others.  His  meat 
was  '  jerked  '  or  hastily  dried,  that  they  might  the  more 
conveniently  carry  it  on  their  backs.  They  then  made  snow- 
shoes  of  the  hides  of  the  horses,  and  started  back  towards, 
and  aimed  to  reach.  Fort  Hall,  where  they  supposed  they 
would  meet  with  human  beings  of  some  kind,  white  men, 
half-breeds,  or  Indians. 

"  The  party  kept  together  until  they  had  got  beyond 
Soda  Springs,  where  some  had  become  so  exhausted  they 
could  scarcely  travel, —  and  their  meat  getting  frightfully 
small  in  amount,  Helm  and   a  man  named   Burton  concluded 


80     VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

not  to  endanger  their  own  lives  by  waiting  for  the  wearied 
ones,  so  they  left  them  behind, 

"  The  two  finally  reached  the  Snake  River,  and  moved 
down  it  in  search  of  Fort  Hall,  having  nothing  to  eat  but  the 
prickly-pear  plant.  When  they  liad  reaclitd  the  site  of  Can- 
tonment Loring,  Burton,  starving,  weary,  and  snow-blind,  was 
unable  to  proceed ;  and  a  good  vacant  house  being  there, 
Helm  left  him,  and  continued  on  for  Fort  Hall. 

"  Reaching  the  fort,  he  found  it  without  an  occupant.  He 
then  returned  and  reached  Burton  about  dark.  When  out 
in  the  willows  hard  by,  procuring  firewood,  he  heard  the 
report  of  a  pistol.  Running  back  into  the  house,  he  found 
Burton  had  committed  suicide  by  shooting  himself.  He  then 
concluded  to  try  and  find  liis  way  into  Salt  Lake  Valley. 
Cutting  off,  well  up  in  the  thigh.  Burton's  remaining  leg  (he 
had  eaten  the  other),  he  rolled  the  limb  up  in  an  old  red 
flannel  shirt,  tied  it  across  his  shoulder,  and  started. 

"  About  eight  miles  out  he  met  an  Indian  going  in  his 
lodge.  He  entreated  the  savage  to  take  him  along;  but  the 
Indian  said  he  had  nothing  himself  to  eat,  and  that  his  family 
were  starving.  Helm  exhibited  handfuls  of  gold  coin,  when 
the  Indian  consented  to  his  accompanying  liim. 

"  He  remained  at  this  lodge  about  two  weeks,  paying  the 
Indian  ten  dollars  a  meal.  His  food  consisted  of  ants  and 
an  unpalatable  herb,  called  in  the  mountains  the  '  tobacco 
plant.' 

"  The  above  facts  Helm  gave  me  with  tears  in  his  eyes, 
and  said,  '  I  will  give  you  all  I  have  in  the  world, —  which 
is  only  nine  dollars, —  to  take  me  to  the  settlements.'  I  told 
him  I  did  not  desire  money  for  helping  a  man  in  his  condition. 

"  That  same  evening  the  Indian  with  whom  Helm  had 
been  stopping,  visited  me.  His  name  was  Mo-quip.  I  had 
known  him  for  several  years.  He  fully  corroborated  Helm's 
story,  in  regard  to  the  carrying  and  eating  tlie  body  of  his 
companion.  '  When  I  first  tasted  of  the  flesh,'  said  Mo- 
(|ui|>  in  his  own  tongue.  '  I  knew  not  what  it  was,  but  told 
the  stranger  it  was  bucno*  gii"c, —  better  than  I  had  myself. 

•  Good. 


BOONE  HELM  81 

The  stranger  then  took  hold  of  one  of  the  corners  of  a  red 
shirt  that  was  around  his  pack,  and  jerked  it  up,  when 
a  white  man's  leg,  the  lower  end  ragged  from  gnawing, 
rolled  out  on  the  ground.'  Altogether  Helm  had  paid  Mo- 
quip  two  hundred  and  eighty  dollars. 

"  Having  given  him  a  new  suit  of  buckskin,  and  fur- 
nished him  with  a  horse,  he  set  out  with  my  party  for  Salt 
Lake  City.  Just  after  pitching  my  lodge  the  first  evening 
after  starting  with  him,  '  Grand  Maison,'  very  much  fright- 
ened, came  to  me  with  a  sack  of  gold  coin  which  he  said 
Helm  had  asked  him  to  conceal  until  they  reached  Salt 
Lake  City.  I  took  the  money  and  counted  it  —  it  amounted 
to  fourteen  hundred  dollars. 

"  Though  satisfied  there  was  something  wrong,  I  said 
nothing,  and  took  Helm  on  to  the  settlements.  Having  ascer- 
tained in  the  meantime  that  he  was  the  worst  kind  of  a 
desperado,  I  called  him  to  me  as  soon  as  we  had  reached 
the  end  of  the  journey,  and  handed  him  his  money,  saying, 
'  You  can  now  take  care  of  yourself.'  He  coolly  put  the  coin 
in  his  pocket,  without  expressing  a  syllable  of  thankfulness 
for  the  assistance  I  had  rendered  him. 

"  It  was  not  long  until  he  had  squandered  all  he  had  in 
gambling  and  drinking,  and  was  finally  expelled  from  Salt 
Lake  Valley  for  his  atrocities. 

"  Hoping  these  facts  may  be  of  service  to  you,  allow  me 
to  subscribe  myself,  Your  obt.  servant, 

"  John  W.  Powell." 

We  have  good  reason  for  believing  that  before  Helm 
fled  from  Salt  Lake  City  he  murdered,  in  cold  blood,  two 
citizens,  at  the  instigation  of  some  of  the  leading  Mor- 
mons, who,  after  the  deed  was  done,  concealed  him,  and 
finally  aided  in  his  escape  from  arrest.  Certain  it  is  that 
after  leaving  there  he  travelled  through  southern  Utah, 
and  by  a  long  circuit  reached  San  Francisco,  whence  he 
returned  by  water  to  the  Dalles  in  Oregon. 

Here  he  engaged  in  fresh  villainies.  Several  murders 
which  were  committed  along  the  route  leading  from  the 


82     VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

Columbia  River  to  the  gold  mines  were  laid  to  his  charge. 
At  one  time,  in  Washington  Territory,  he  stole  a  herd  of 
horses  which  he  sold  at  ^'ancouver's  Island.  In  this  course 
of  varied  and  hardened  crime  he  passed  his  time  till  the 
Spring  of  1862, —  with  his  usual  good  fortune  escaping 
detection  or  arrest.  In  June  of  that  year  he  made  his 
appearance  in  Florence,  where  he  soon  found,  among  the 
roughs,  congenial  associates. 

A  man  of  that  mixed  character  which  united  the  quali- 
ties of  a  gambler,  a  skilful  pugilist,  and  an  honest, 
straightforward  miner  in  his  single  person,  known  only  as 
*'  Dutch  Fred,"  at  this  time  enjoyed  a  local  notoriety  in 
Florence  which  had  won  for  him  among  his  comrades  the 
appellation  of  "  Chief."  He  was  neither  a  rowdy  nor 
desperado,  and  in  ordinary  deal,  honest  and  generous ; 
but  he  gambled,  drank,  and  when  roused,  was  a  perfect 
Hercules  in  a  fight.  Helm,  having  been  plied  with  liquor, 
at  the  request  of  an  enemy  of  Fred's  sought  him  out  for 
the  purpose  of  provoking  a  fight.  Entering  the  saloon 
where  Fred  was  seated  at  a  faro  table,  Helm,  with  many 
oaths  and  epithets  and  flourishes  of  his  revolver,  chal- 
lenged Fred  to  an  inunediate  deadly  combat.  Fred  sprung 
up,  drew  his  knife,  and  was  advancing  to  close  with  the 
drunken  braggart,  when  the  by-standers  interfered,  and 
deprived  botji  of  their  weapons,  which  they  entrusted  to 
the  keeping  of  the  saloon-keeper,  and  Fred  returned  quiet- 
ly to  his  game. 

Helm  apologized,  and  expressed  regret  for  his  conduct, 
and  left  the  saloon.  A  few  hours  afterwards  he  returned. 
Fred  was  still  there.  Stepping  up  to  the  saloon-keeper. 
Helm  asked  for  his  revolver,  promising  that  he  would  im- 
mediately depart  and  make  no  disturbance.  No  sooner 
was  it  ri'tunu'd  to  him  than  he  turned  towards  Fred,  and 
uttering  a  diabolical  oath,  fired  at  him  wjiile  seated  at  the 
table.     The  ball  missed,  and  before  the  second  fire,  Fred, 


BOONE  HELINI  8.5 

unarmed,   witli   his   arms   folded  across   his  breast,  stood 
before  his  antagonist,  who,  with  deadlier  aim,  pierced  his 
heart.      He   fell   dead   upon   the  spot.      Helm   cocked   his 
pistol,  and  looking  towards  the  stupefied  crowd,  exclaimed, 
"  Ma^'be  some  more  of  you  want  some  of  this !  " 
As  no  one  deigned  a  reply,  he  walked  coolly  away. 
If  Helm  was  arrested  for  this  murder,  he  escaped;  for 
the  next  we  hear  of  him,  he  was  captured  on  Frazer  River 
in  the  Fall  of  1862,  as  will  appear  from  the  following  ex- 
tract from  a  British  Columbia  paper: 

"  The  man,  Boone  Helm,  to  whom  we  referred  some  weeks 
since,  has  at  last  been  taken.  He  was  brought  into  this  city 
last  night  strongly  ironed.  The  first  clue  of  the  detectives 
was  the  report  that  two  men  had  been  seen  trudging  up  the 
Frazer  River  on  foot,  with  their  blankets  and  a  scanty 
supply  of  provisions  on  their  backs.  The  description  of  one 
corresponded  with  the  description  given  by  the  American 
officers  of  Boone  Helm.  Helm's  conduct  on  the  road  is  con- 
clusive evidence  that  he  was  aware  he  was  being  pursued. 
He  passed  around  the  more  populous  settlements,  or  through 
them  in  the  night  time.  When  overtaken,  he  was  so  exhausted 
by  fatigue  and  hunger  that  it  would  have  been  impossible 
for  him  to  continue  many  hours  longer.  He  made  no  re- 
sistance to  the  arrest, —  in  fact,  he  was  too  weak  to  do  so, — 
and  acknowledged  without  equivocation  or  attempt  at  evasion 
that  he  was  Boone  Helm.  Upon  being  asked  what  had  be- 
come of  his  companion,  he  replied  with  the  utmost  sang 
froid: 

Why,  do  you   suppose  that  I  'm  a fool   enough   to 

starve   to   death    when    I    can   help    it?      I    ate   him    up,    of 
course.' 

"  The  man  who  accompanied  him  has  not  been  seen  or 
heard  of  since,  and  from  what  we  have  been  told  of  this 
case-hardened  villain's  antecedents,  we  are  inclined  to  believe 
he  told  the  truth.  It  is  said  this  is  not  the  first  time  he  has 
been  guilty  of  cannibalism." 


84     VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

While  on  his  return  for  trial  in  the  Spring  of  1863, 
leave  was  obtained  from  the  proper  authorities  at  Port- 
land, Oregon,  to  confine  him  in  the  penitentiary  there  until 
provision  could  be  made  to  secure  him  safely  at  Florence, 
There  I  will  leave  him  for  the  present,  as,  after  accom- 
panying me  thus  far  through  the  horrible  narrative  of  his 
adventures,  my  readers  doubtless,  now  that  he  is  fairly 
within  the  sharp  fangs  of  the  law,  hope  soon  to  learn  that 
justice  has  finally  overtaken  him,  and  that  the  world  is 
freed  from  his  further  depredations. 

Three  brothers  of  Boone  Helm  came  to  the  Pacific  coast 
between  1848  and  1850.  They  all  died  violent  deaths.  At 
the  time  of  the  return  of  Boone  Helm  to  Florence  for  trial 
for  the  murder  of  Dutch  Fred,  one  of  these  brothers, 
familiarly  called  "  Old  Tex,"  was  engaged  in  mining  in 
the  Boise  diggings,  two  hundred  miles  south  of  Florence. 
He  had  a  good  reputation  for  honesty,  liberality,  and 
courage.  He  was,  moreover,  a  man  of  eccentric  charac- 
ter. It  is  told  of  him  that  in  one  of  the  mining  towns  he 
threatened  to  shoot  on  sight  a  person  with  whom  he  had 
a  personal  difficulty.  His  enemy  hearing  of  this,  swore 
to  reciprocate  the  intention  upon  the  first  opportunity. 
A  chance  soon  after  offering  to  carry  his  threat  into  ex- 
ecution, he  said  to  Old  Tex,  as  he  presented  his  pistol  to 
fire, 

"  Tex,  I  heard  that  you  said  that  you  'd  shoot  me  on 
sight." 

Looking  around,  Tex  replied,  "  Well,  did  n't  you  say 
you  would  shoot  me,  too.'*  " 

"  Yes,  I  did." 

"Well,  why  don't  you  do  it  then?  All  you've  got  to 
do  is  to  pull  that  trigger,  and  that 's  the  last  of  Old  Tex." 

This  stoical  bravery  won  the  admiration  of  the  man  and 
defeated  his  bloody   purpose. 

"  Tex,"  said  he,  "  I  don't  want  to  kill  you." 


BOONE  HELM  85 

"  Do  you  mean  that  ?  "  asked  Tex. 

"  I  do." 

"  That  suits  mc,"  replied  Tex,  "  let 's  go  and  take  a 
drink."  And  thus  their  enmity  ended  in  making  them  fast 
friends.  Tex  was  killed  by  being  thrown  from  a  wild  horse, 
in  Walla  Walla,  in  the  year  1865. 

It  was  to  this  brother  that  Boone  Helm,  when  he  found 
all  hope  of  escape  at  an  end,  applied  for  assistance.  True 
to  the  fraternal  instinct,  Tex  promptly  responded,  and 
soon  made  his  appearance  in  Florence,  with  a  heavy  purse. 
He  soon  satisfied  himself  that  unless  the  testimony  could 
be  suppressed,  the  trial  must  result  in  conviction ;  and  to 
this  object  he  immediately  addressed  himself.  Some  of 
the  witnesses  had  left  the  country.  Tex  succeeded  in  bu}'- 
ing  up  all  that  remained,  except  one.  He  wanted  an  ex- 
travagant sum.  Tex  finally  agreed  to  pay  it,  if  he  would 
at  once  leave  the  country  and  never  return.  The  extor- 
tionist accepted  the  conditions.  Fixing  his  cold,  gray  eye 
on  him,  Tex,  as  he  handed  him  the  money,  said:  "  Now, 
remember,  if  you  do  not  fulfil  the  last  condition  of  the  bar- 
gain, you  will  have  me  to  meet." 

Shylock  knew  the  character  of  the  man  too  well  to  trifle 
with  him. 

The  day  of  trial  came,  no  witnesses  appeared,  the  case 
was  dismissed,  and  the  red-handed  murderer  and  cannibal 
was  again  at  liberty  to  prowl  for  fresh  victims.  The  true- 
hearted  brother  who  had  purchased  his  life,  as  soon  as  he 
was  free,  took  him  kindly  by  the  hand,  and  in  a  voice 
choked  with  emotion,  said  to  him, 

"  Now,  Boone,  if  you  want  to  work  and  make  an  honest 
living,  go  down  to  Boise  with  me.  I  have  plenty  of  mining 
ground,  and  you  can  do  well  for  yourself :  —  but  if  you 
must  fight,  and  nothing  else  will  do  you,  I  will  give  you  an 
outfit  to  go  to  Texas,  where  you  can  join  the  Confederate 
armies,  and  do  something  for  your  country." 


86     VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

Boone  accoiiipunicd  his  I}rothcr  to  Boise,  and  for  a  while 
engaged  in  mining,  but  it  was  not  a  congenial  occupation. 
He  soon  signified  his  desire  to  go  to  Texas,  and  Old  Tex, 
true  to  his  promise,  furnished  him  clothing,  a  horse,  and 
a  well-filled  purse.  He  set  out  in  quest  of  new  adventures, 
but,  as  we  shall  sec  hereafter,  did  uot  go  to  Texas. 


CHAPTER  XI 
DEATH  OF  CHARLEY  HARPER 

WE  return  now  to  Charley  Harper,  whom  we  left  at 
Colville  on  the  Upper  Columbia,  a  fugitive  from  the 
^'igilantes  of  Florence.  Fear  had  exercised  a  healthful 
restraint  upon  his  conduct,  and  during  the  brief  period 
that  had  elapsed  since  his  flight,  though  by  no  means  a 
model  citizen,  he  had  been  guilty  of  no  offences  of  an  ag- 
gravated character.  He  was,  however,  known  to  be  a  fav- 
orite with  the  roughs,  a  gambler,  a  drunkard,  and  a  man 
of  desperate  resources.  Good  men  shunned  and  watched 
him.  Had  there  been  a  Vigilante  organization  in  existence 
then,  he  would  have  received  its  closest  observation.  But 
in  a  condition  of  society  where  all  classes  intermingled,  he 
contrived  to  slip  along  without  molestation. 

New  Year's  Day  brought  with  it  the  customary  ball,  to 
which  all  were  invited.  The  preparations  were  on  a  scale 
commensurate  with  the  wishes  and  means  of  the  miners, 
who  generally,  upon  such  occasions,  spare  no  expense  while 
their  money  holds  out.  Everybody  in  the  town  was  in  at- 
tendance, Charley  Harper  among  the  number.  Attracted 
at  an  early  hour  of  the  evening  by  the  sparkling  eyes  and 
voluptuous  person  of  a  half-breed  woman,  he  devoted  to 
her  his  entire  attention,  dancing  with  her  often,  and  be- 
stowing upon  her  many  unmistakable  civilities.  As  the  even- 
ing wore  on,  Charley  became  boisterous,  swaggering,  and 
nois3\  His  inamorata  declined  his  further  attentions,  and 
refused  his  hand  for  a  dance.  Incensed  to  madness  by  this 
act,  crazy  with  liquor,  he  knocked  her  down,  and  beat  and 

87 


88     VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

kicked  her  in  a  most  inhuman  manner  after  she  had  been 
prostrated.  This  roused  the  indifrnation  of  the  by-stand- 
ers,  and  Charley,  seeing  vengeance  in  their  demonstrations, 
fled  in  terror  before  them.  They  pursued  him  through  the 
streets,  he  retreating  and  firing  upon  them  until  he  had 
emptied  his  revolver.  The  pursuit  ended  in  his  capture, 
a  rope  was  procured,  and  a  few  moments  afterwards 
the  lifeless  form  of  the  wretched  desperado  was  swinging 
in  the  cold  night  wind  from  a  limb  of  the  tree  nearest 
the  place  of  his  arrest.  Thus  ended  the  life  of  one  who, 
among  his  own  associates,  bore  the  name  of  being  the  mean- 
est scoundrel  of  their  gang. 

After  the  affray  which  terminated  in  the  death  of  Cher- 
okee Bob  and  Willoughby,  the  Vigilantes  of  Florence 
met,  passed  congratulatory  resolutions,  and  renewed  their 
measures  for  the  effective  suppression  of  crime  in  their 
midst.  Their  Executive  Committee  was  instructed  to  warn 
all  suspicious  characters  to  leave  the  place  immediately, 
—  and  they  determined  to  visit  with  condign  punishment 
those  who  disobeyed.  The  leading  men  among  the  offenders 
had  fled  in  anticipation  of  some  public  demonstration,  so 
that  those  who  remained  were  few  and  powerless.  Among 
these  was  a  tall,  lean,  cadaverous  individual,  derisively 
called  "  Fat  Jack,"  who,  like  Happy  Harry,  belonged 
to  that  class  of  negative  scoundrels,  whose  love  for  crime 
is  confined  by  fear  to  petty  thefts.  Fat  Jack  obeyed  the 
order  to  leave,  and  went  to  Walla  Walla.  Brooding  over 
his  expulsion  with  increasing  indignation,  and  encouraged 
in  the  belief  that  he  could  return  without  molestation, 
after  a  short  period  he  went  back  to  Florence,  muttering 
by  the  way  violent  threats  against  those  who  had  banished 
him.  Two  months  had  elapsed  since  hi§  hegira.  It  Mas 
late  in  the  afternoon  of  a  cold,  stormy,  March  day  when 
he  entered  the  town.  At  his  first  appearance  he  was 
promptly  waited  upon  by  the  members  of  the  Executive 


DEATH  OF  CHARLEY  HARPER  89 

Committee,  who  ordered  him  to  rotrucc  his  steps  at  once, 
or  lie  would  be  hanged.  Hard  as  this  order  may  seem  to 
the  casual  reader,  to  have  neglected  it  would  have  endan- 
gered the  efficiency  of  the  committee  and  opened  a  way 
for  a  return  of  the  roughs  to  their  old  haunts. 

The  poor  wretch  turned  his  face  to  the  storm,  and  wan- 
dered through  the  darkness,  sleet,  and  wind,  despairingly, 
from  cabin  to  cabin,  in  search  of  food  and  lodging.  Every 
door  was  closed  against  him,  and  he  was  rudely  and  un- 
pityingly  told  to  "  Be  gone,"  by  all  from  whom  he  sought 
relief.  At  a  distance  of  four  miles  from  Florence  he 
stopped  at  a  late  hour  of  the  night  at  the  door  of  a  worthy 
man  by  the  name  of  Neselrode.  Jack  answered  frankly 
the  old  man's  questions.  Neselrode  admitted  him,  gave  him 
supper,  and  a  bed  by  his  cabin  fireside.  A  hired  man  was 
the  only  other  occupant  of  the  house. 

At  a  later  hour  of  the  night,  two  men  roused  Mr.  Nesel- 
rode, and  demanded  the  person  of  Fat  Jack.  Nesel- 
rode, on  being  told  that  they  had  no  authority,  refused  to 
surrender  him  to  an  irresponsible  party,  as  to  do  so  would 
be  on  his  part  a  violation  of  the  laws  of  hospitality.  His 
refusal  was  followed  by  the  instant  discharge  of  two  dou- 
ble-barrelled shotguns  which  riddled  the  door  with  buck- 
shot, and  stretched  in  death-throes  both  the  kind-hearted 
host  and  his  criminal  guest.  The  one  surviving  man 
threw  open  the  door,  and  bade  the  dastardly  ruffians  to 
enter,  telling  them  the  murderous  effects  of  their  shots. 
They  availed  themselves  of  the  darkness  to  flee  without 
recognition.  None  of  the  citizens  of  Florence  were  more 
indignant  when  told  of  this  cruel  assassination  than  the 
Vigilantes  themselves.  A  meeting  was  held  denouncing  the 
perpetrators,  and  pledging  the  citizens  to  the  adoption  of 
every  possible  means  for  their  early  detection  and  punish- 
ment. Alas  !  the  criminals  remain  to  this  day  undiscov- 
ered.    They  belonged,  doubtless,  to  that  class  of  officious 


00     VICxILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

individuals,  of  whotn  there  are  many  in  the  mining  camps, 
wlio  in  point  of  moral  character  and  actual  integrity  are 
but  a  single  remove  from  the  criminals  themselves, —  men 
who  live  a  cheating,  gambling,  dissipated  life,  and  seek  a 
cover  for  their  own  iniquities  by  the  energy  and  vlndictive- 
ness  with  which  they  pursue  others  accused  of  actual  guilt. 
If  the  various  protective  societies  which  at  one  time  and 
another  have  sprung  up  in  the  mining  regions  to  preserve 
peace  and  good  order  are  liable  to  any  charge  of  wrong, 
it  was  their  neglect  to  punish  those  men  who  used  the  or- 
ganization to  promote  their  own  selfish  purposes,  and  in 
the  name  of  Vigilante  justice  committed  crimes  which  on 
any  principle  of  ethics  were  wholly  indefensible.  The  fact 
that  in  some  instances  wrongs  of  this  kind  have  occurred, 
only  adds  to  the  proof,  that  in  all  forms  of  society,  whether 
governed  by  permanent  or  temporary  laws,  there  are  al- 
ways a  few  who  are  adroit  and  cunning  enough  to  escape 
merited  punishment. 


CHAPTER  XII 
PINKHAM  AND  PATTERSON 

NO  two  men  filled  a  broader  space  in  the  early  history  of 
the  Florence  mines  than  Pinkham  and  Patterson. 
Their  personal  characteristics  gave  them  a  wide-spread  no- 
toriety, and  a  sort  of  local  popularity,  which  each  enjoyed 
in  his  separate  sphere.  They  were  both  leaders,  after 
their  own  fashion,  in  the  heterogeneous  society  in  which 
they  moved,  and  he  was  deemed  a  bold  man  who  would 
gainsay  their  opinions,  or  resist  their  enterprises. 

They  were  both  gamblers,  and  lived  the  free  and  easy 
life  of  that  pursuit;  a  pursuit  which,  in  a  new  mining 
camp,  next  to  that  of  absolute  ruffianism,  enabled  its  vo- 
taries to  exercise  a  power  as  unlimited  as  it  is  generally 
lawless  and  insurrectionary.  Indeed,  there  it  is  the  mas- 
ter vice,  which  gives  life  and  support  to  all  the  other  vices, 
and  that  surrounds  and  hedges  them  in. 

The  order  of  influences  which  govern  and  direct  the 
social  element  of  a  mining  camp  in  its  infancy  is  exactly 
the  reverse  of  those  which  govern  and  direct  the  social 
element  of  an  Eastern  village.  The  clergyman,  the  church, 
and  the  various  little  associations  growing  out  of  it,  which 
make  the  society  of  our  New  England  villages  so  delight- 
ful, and,  at  the  same  time,  so  disciplinary  and  instructive, 
are  superseded  in  a  new  mining  community  by  the  gambling 
saloon,  cheap  whiskey,  frail  women,  and  all  the  evils  neces- 
sarily flowing  from  such  polluted  combinations.  In  the 
one  case,  religion  and  morality  stand  in  the  foreground, 
protected  by  the  spirit  of  wise  and  inflexible  laws ;  In  the 

91 


92     VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

other,  the  rifle,  the  pistol,  and  the  bowie-knife  are  flourished 
by  reckless  men,  whose  noblest  inspirations  are  excited  b}' 
liquor  and  debauchery.  While  all  that  is  good  and  true 
and  pure  in  society  is  brought  into  unceasing  action  in 
the  one  case,  all  that  is  vile  and  false  and  polluted  reigns 
supreme  in  the  other.  We  look  to  the  one  conditon  of 
society  for  all  great  and  good  examples  of  humanity,  and 
to  the  other  for  such  as  are  of  an  opposite  character. 

If  we  are  to  credit  the  early  history  of  New  England, 
Miles  Standish  was  a  central  character  of  Puritanic  chiv- 
alry and  fidelity.  The  people  had  faith  in  his  Christian 
character,  and  entire  confidence  in  his  strong  arm  and  fer- 
tility of  expedients  in  the  hour  of  danger.  Some  such 
sentiment,  qualified  by  the  wide  difi'ercnce  in  the  moral 
character  of  the  two  men,  attached  the  mining  community 
of  Florence  to  Pinkham.  He  was  a  bold,  outspoken,  truth- 
ful, self-reliant  man,  without  a  particle  of  braggadocio  or 
bluster,  careful  always  to  say  what  he  meant,  and  to  do 
what  he  said.  Fear  was  a  stranger  to  him,  and  desperate 
chances  never  found  him  without  desperate  means. 

Pinkham  was  a  native  of  Maine,  and  physically  a  fine 
type  of  the  stalwart  New  Englander.  In  stature  he  was 
more  than  six  feet,  and  in  weight  upwards  of  two  hundred 
pounds.  To  the  agility  of  a  mountain  cat  he  added  the 
(juiok,  sharp  eye  of  an  Indian  and  the  strength  of  a  giant. 
Trained  by  years  of  frontier  exposure,  he  was  skilled  in  the 
ready  use  of  all  defensive  weapons.  When  aroused,  the 
habitual  frown  upon  liis  brow  gathered  into  a  fierce  scowl, 
and  the  steely  gray  eyes  fairly  blazed  in  their  sockets. 
At  such  times  he  was  dangerous,  because  it  was  his  cus- 
tom to  settle  all  disputes  with  a  word  and  a  blow,  and  the 
blow  always  came  first.  The  intensity  of  his  nature  could 
not  brook  altercation. 

Pinkham  had  been  an  adventurer  ever  since  the  discov- 
ery of  gold  in  California.     He  was  among  the  first  of  that 


PINKHAM  AND  PATTERSON       93 

great  army  of  fortune-seekers  which  braved  the  perils  of 
an  overland  trip  to  that  distant  El  Dorado  in  1849.  If, 
before  he  left  his  New  England  home,  no  blight  had  fallen 
upon  his  moral  nature,  it  is  certain  that  soon  after  his 
arrival  in  the  land  of  gold  his  character  took  the  form 
which  it  ever  afterwards  wore,  of  a  gambler  and  desperado. 
In  this  there  was  nothing  strange,  as  he  was  but  one  vic- 
tim in  a  catastrophe  that  wrecked  the  characters  of  thou- 
sands. The  estimate  is  small,  which  places  at  one-half  the 
number  of  the  early  Pacific  gold-seekers,  those  who  fell 
victims  to  the  moral  ruin  of  life  in  the  mining  camp.  It 
was  the  fruitful  nursery  of  all  those  desperate  men,  who, 
after  years  of  bloody  experience,  expiated  their  crimes 
upon  the  impromptu  scaffolds  of  the  Vigilantes,  or  in  some 
of  the  violent  brawls  which  their  own  recklessness  had  ex- 
cited. Pinkham's  pursuits  in  California  were  those  of  the 
professional  gambler.  At  one  time  he  kept  a  common 
dance-house  in  Marysville.  It  is  fair,  in  the  absence  of 
facts,  to  presume  that  his  life  in  the  Golden  State  was  a 
preparatory  foreground  for  the  one  which  followed  in  the 
mountains  of  Washington  Territory.  He  was  among 
the  first,  in  1862,  who  were  lured  to  that  Territory  by  the 
reports  of  extensive  gold  discoveries.  Among  the  des- 
perate, reckless,  and  motley  crowd  that  assembled  at  Flor- 
ence immediately  after  the  discovery  of  the  mines,  was 
Pinkham,  with  his  faro  boards  and  monte  cards,  "  giving 
the  boys  a  chance  for  a  tussle  with  the  tiger  and  the  leop- 
ard." It  was  not  long  until  he  became  a  central  figure  in 
the  camp.  The  wild,  undisciplined,  pleasure-seeking  popu- 
lation, attracted  by  the  outspoken  boldness  and  self- 
assertion  of  the  man,  quietly  submitted  to  the  influence 
which  such  characteristics  always  command.  And  no  man 
better  understood  his  power  over  his  followers,  or  exercised 
it  more  warily,  than  Pinkham.  The  reputation  which  he 
enjoyed,  of  being  a  bold,  chivalric,  fearless  man,  ready  for 


94     VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

any  emergency,  however  desperate,  gained  for  him  the 
favor  of  every  reckless  adventurer  who  shared  in  his  gen- 
eral views  of  the  race. 

Unlike  most  of  the  gamblers  and  roughs,  who  for  the 
most  part  sympathized  with  the  Confederates,  Pinkham 
was  an  intense  Union  man.  He  never  lost  an  opportunity 
to  proclaim  his  attachment  for  the  Union  cause,  and 
denounced  as  traitors  all  who  opposed  it.  No  fear  of  per- 
sonal injury  restrained  him  in  the  utterance  of  his  patri- 
otic sentiments,  and  as  he  always  avowed  a  readiness  to 
fight  for  them,  his  opponents  were  careful  to  afford  him 
no  opportunity.  At  every  election  in  Idaho  City  after 
the  organization  of  the  Territory,  he  was  found  at  the 
polls  surrounded  by  a  set  of  plucky  fellows  armed  to  the 
teeth,  ready  at  his  command  for  any  violent  collisions  with 
secessionists  that  the  occasion  might  arouse.  His  tall 
form,  rendered  more  conspicuous  by  the  loud  and  inspiring 
voice  with  which,  to  the  cries  of  *'  negro  worshippers," 
"  abolitionists,"  and  "  Lincoln  hirelings,"  he  shouted  back 
"  secessionists,"  "  copperheads,"  "  rebels,"  and  "  traitors," 
was  always  the  centre  of  a  circle  of  men  who  would  oppose 
force  to  force  and  return  shot  for  shot. 

On  his  return  to  Idaho  City  from  a  business  visit  to 
the  States,  a  few  days  before  the  anniversary  of  our  na- 
tional independence  of  the  year  in  which  he  was  killed,  he 
was  so  indignant  that  no  preparations  had  been  made  for 
a  celebration,  that  when  the  day  arrived  he  procured  a 
National  flag,  hired  a  drummer  and  fifer,  and  followed 
them,  waving  the  banner,  through  the  streets  of  the  town, 
greatly  to  the  disgust  of  the  secessionists.  The  South  hail 
just  been  conquered,  and  the  demonstration  wore  the  ap- 
pearance of  exultation,  but  no  one  aggrieved  by  it  had  the 
hardihood  to  interrupt  its  progress.  "  Old  Pink,"  as  he 
WHS  familiarly  called,  was  much  too  dangerous  a  character 
to  meddle  with. 


I 


PINKHAM  AND  PATTERSON       95 

With  all  his  rough  and  desperate  characteristics,  Pink- 
ham  had  no  synipathj  for  the  rohbers  and  murderers  and 
tiiievcs  that  swarmed  around  him;  and  when  Idaho  was 
organized  the  governor  of  the  Territory  appointed  him 
sheriff  of  Boise  County.  Soon  afterwards  he  received  the 
appointment  of  United  States  marshal,  an  office  which 
made  him  and  his  friends  in  some  measure  the  represen- 
tatives of  law  and  order.  By  promptly  discharging  the 
duties  of  these  offices,  he  was  held  in  great  fear  by  the 
criminal  population  of  the  Territory,  and  won  the  respect 
of  the  best  citizens  for  his  efficiency  and  fidelity. 

Patterson  was  a  native  of  Tennessee,  whence,  in  boy- 
hood, he  had  gone  with  his  parents  to  Texas  and  grown  to 
manhood  among  the  desperate  and  bloody  men  of  that ' 
border  State.  His  character,  tastes,  and  pursuits  were 
formed  by  early  association  with  them.  He  was  a  gambl^ 
by  profession,  but  of  a  nature  too  impulsive  to  depend 
upon  it  as  a  means  of  livelihood.  When  he  came  to  Cal- 
ifornia, he  turned  his  attention  to  mining,  alternating  that 
pursuit  with  gambling,  as  the  inclination  seized  him.  Like 
Pinkham,  he  was  a  man  of  striking  presence, —  in  stature 
six  feet,  and  of  weight  to  correspond,  with  a  fair  com- 
plexion, light  hair  streaked  with  gray,  sandy  whiskers, 
and,  when  unaffected  by  liquor  or  passion,  a  sad,  reflective 
countenance  lit  up  by  calm  but  expressive  blue  eyes.  His 
habitual  manner  was  that  of  quiet,  gentlemanly  repose; 
—  and  to  one  unacquainted  with  his  characteristics,  he 
would  never  have  been  suspected  of  a  fondness  for  any  kind 
of  excitement.  In  conversation  he  was  uniformly  affable 
when  sober,  and  bore  the  reputation  of  being  a  very  genial 
and  mirth-loving  companion  when  engaged  with  others  in 
any  exploring  or  dangerous  enterprise.  He  was  brave  to 
a  fault,  and  perfectly  familiar  with  all  the  exposures  and 
extremes  of  border  life, —  as  ready  to  repair  the  lock  of  a 
gun  or  pistol  as  to  use  those  weapons  in  attack  or  defence. 


96     VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

His  kindness  and  thoughtfulness  for  the  comfort  of  any 
of  his  party  in  the  event  of  sickness,  and  the  resources 
with  which  he  overcame  obstacles  in  the  numerous  expedi- 
tions of  one  kind  and  another  in  which  he  participated, 
made  him  a  great  favorite  with  all  who  knew  him,  and  gave 
him  a  commanding  power  over  the  society  in  which  he 
moved.  He  was  naturally  a  leader  of  those  with  whom  he 
associated.  Had  these  been  his  only  characteristics,  Pat- 
terson would  have  been  one  of  the  most  useful  men  in  the 
mining  regions, —  but  whiskey  always  transformed  him  into 
a  demon.  Patterson  wzvs  not  a  steady  drinker,  but  gave 
himself  up  to  occasional  seasons  of  indulgence.  He  was 
one  of  that  large  class  of  drinkers  who  cannot  indulge  their 
appetites  at  all  without  going  through  all  the  stages  of 
excitement,  to  complete  exhaustion.  From  the  moment  he 
entered  upon  one  of  these  excesses  to  its  close,  he  was  dan- 
gerous. The  whole  man  was  changed.  His  calm,  blue  eye 
looked  like  a  heated  furnace  and  was  suggestive  of  a  thirst 
for  blood.  His  quiet  and  gentlemanly  manner  disappeared. 
His  breath  was  labored,  and  his  nostrils  dilated  like  those 
of  an  enraged  buffalo.  He  remembered,  on  these  occa- 
sions, every  person  who  had  ever  offended  him,  and  sought 
the  one  nearest  to  him  to  engage  him  in  quarrel.  His 
whole  bearing  was  aggressive  and  belligerent,  and  his  best 
friends  always  avoided  him  until  he  became  sober. 

His  unfortunate  propensity  for  liquor  had  involved  him 
in  several  serious  affrays  before  he  came  to  the  Idaho  mines. 
On  one  occasion,  in  Southern  Oregon,  a  man  who  had  suf- 
fered injury  at  his  hands,  while  on  a  drunken  spree  shot 
him  in  the  side  by  stealth.  Patterson  with  the  quickness 
of  lightning  drew  his  revolver,  and  fired  upon  and  wounded 
his  assailant.  Both  fell,  and  Patterson,  believing  the 
wound  ho  had  received  would  prove  fatal,  fired  all  the  re- 
maining charges  in  his  pistol  at  his  antagonist,  and  then 
called  for  his  friends  to  take  off  his  boots. 


PINKHAM  AND  PATTERSON       97 

The  original  expression,  "  he  will  die  with  his  boots  on 
some  day,"  uttered  many  years  ago  as  the  prediction  of 
some  comical  miner  that  a  murderer  would  be  hanged  or 
come  to  his  death  by  violence,  has  grown  into  a  fantastic 
belief  among  the  reckless  and  bloodthirsty  ruffians  of  the 
Pacific  coast.  Patterson,  who  shared  in  this  faith,  in- 
tended, by  having  his  boots  taken  off,  to  signify  to  those 
around  him  that  he  had  never  been  guilty  of  murder. 
When  we  consider  that  of  the  great  number  of  those  who 
in  the  early  history  of  the  mining  regions  were  guilty  of 
murder,  nineteen  at  least  of  every  twenty  have  expiated 
their  crimes  upon  the  scaffold  or  in  bloody  affrays,  the 
faith  in  this  frontier  axiom  seems  not  to  be  greatly  mis- 
placed :  but  why  it  should  be  any  more  potent  as  a  human 
prediction  than  as  the  stern  edict  of  the  Almighty  de- 
nounced against  the  murderer  four  thousand  years  ago,  I 
leave  for  the  solution  of  those  modern  thinkers  who  build 
their  belief  outside  the  lids  of  the  Bible. 

Another  bloody  rencontre  in  which  Patterson  was  en- 
gaged was  with  one  Captain  Staples  in  Portland,  Oregon. 
Staples,  an  ardent  Unionist,  boisterously  patriotic  from 
liquor,  insisted  that  all  around  him  should  join  in  a  toast 
to  Lincoln  and  the  Union  arms.  Patterson  refused,  and 
an  unpleasant  altercation  followed,  but  the  parties  sep- 
arated without  collision.  Later  in  the  evening  they  met, 
and  the  difficulty  was  renewed,  and  in  the  fight  Staples  was 
killed.  Patterson  was  tried  and  acquitted ;  and  became,  in 
consequence  of  the  quarrel  and  trial,  a  great  favorite  and 
champion  among  the  secessionists  of  Portland. 

Some  time  after  this,  in  a  drunken  frenzy  he  scalped  a 
disreputable  female  acquaintance.  His  own  version  of  this 
affair  was  as  follows :  "  I  was  trying,"  said  he,  "  to  cut  off 
a  lock  of  her  hair  with  my  bowie-knife,  but  she  would  n't 
keep  her  head  still,  and  I  made  a  mistake,  and  got  part 
of  her  scalp  with  the  hair."    For  this  act  he  was  arrested 


98     VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

and  recognized  to  await  the  action  of  the  grand  jury;  but 
before  the  term  of  court  he  left  the  State,  and  his  bonds- 
men were  compelled  to  pay  the  forfeiture. 

Patterson  came  to  Idaho  with  the  first  discovery  of  gold 
in  that  section.  His  fellow-gamblers,  who  never  failed, 
with  one  hand,  to  take  advantage  of  his  unskilful  play- 
ing, were  always  ready  to  contribute  to  his  necessities  with 
the  other.  If  he  wanted  money  to  stock  a  faro  bank  they 
furnished  it.  If  a  saloon-keeper  needed  a  man  who  united 
popularity  and  strength  to  arrest  the  encroachments  of 
the  roughs,  he  was  ever  ready  to  share  a  liberal  portion 
of  his  profits  with  Patterson  for  such  services.  The  dif- 
ference between  Pinkham  and  Patterson  was  that,  while 
the  friends  of  the  former  looked  to  him  for  aid  in  their 
embarrassments,  those  of  the  latter  afforded  him  the  means 
of  existence. 

About  a  year  before  the  occurrence  of  the  bloody  affray 
between  these  men,  Patterson  and  some  of  his  friends,  dur- 
ing a  period  of  drunken  excitement,  took  unlawful  pos- 
session of  a  brewery  in  Idaho  City,  and  engaged  in  the 
manufacture  of  beer.  Pinkham  was  the  only  person  in 
the  city  brave  enough  to  undertake  their  arrest.  When  he 
entered  the  building  for  the  purpose,  he  informed  Patter- 
son of  his  object  and  was  met  with  violent  resistance.  In 
the  struggle  Pinkham  was  successful,  and  Patterson  was 
arrested  and  taken  away.  The  citizens,  knowing  the  char- 
acter of  Patterson,  and  expecting  nothing  less  than  a 
shooting  affray  as  the  consequence  of  the  arrest,  were  sur- 
prised at  his  submission.  It  was  soon  understood,  how- 
ever, that  the  bad  blood  provoked  by  the  incident  had  sev- 
ered all  friendly  relations  between  the  champions,  and  that 
Patterson  would  avail  himself  of  the  first  opportunity  to 
avenge  himself.  Months  passed  away  without  any  colli- 
sion. The  subject,  if  not  forgotten,  was  lost  sight  of  as 
other  occurrences  more  or  less  exciting  transpired. 


PINKHAM  AND  PATTERSON       99 

On  the  day  he  \vas  killed,  Pinkhani,  with  an  acquain- 
tance, rode  out  to  the  Warm  Springs,  a  favorite  bathing 
resort  two  miles  distant  from  Idaho  City.  Meeting  there 
with  several  friends,  he  drank  more  freely  than  usual  and 
became  quite  hilarious. 

Patterson  returned  early  the  same  day  from  Rocky 
Bar,  fifty  miles  distant.  Half-crazed  from  the  effects  of 
protracted  indulgence  in  drinking  and  a  severe  personal 
encounter,  his  friends,  to  aid  his  return  to  sobriety,  took 
him  to  the  springs  for  a  bath.  Among  others  who  ac- 
companied him  was  one  Terry,  a  vicious,  unprincipled  fel- 
low, who,  in  a  conflict  with  Patterson  a  year  before,  had 
begged  abjectly  for  his  life  when  he  found  himself  slightly 
wounded,  and  ever  after,  spaniel-like,  had  licked  the  hand 
that  smote  him.  When  they  arrived,  Pinkham  and  his 
friends  were  singing  the  popular  refrain  of  "  John  Brown," 
and  had  j  ust  completed  the  line  — 

"  We  '11  hang  Jeff  Davis  on  a  sour  apple  tree," 

as  Patterson  and  his  party  stepped  upon  the  porch.     Jef- 
ferson Davis  was  at  that  time  in  custody.     With  the  cu- 
riosity which  exercised  the  Unionists,  a  singer  said, 
"  Pink,  do  you  think  they  will  hang  Jeff  Davis  ?  " 
"  Yes,"  replied  Pinkham,  "  in  less  than  six  weeks." 
Hearing  a  step  on  the  threshold,  he  turned,  and  his  gaze 
met  the  heated  eyes  of  Patterson.     Neither  spoke,  nor,  ex- 
cept by  vengeful  looks,   gave  any   token   of   recognition. 
Patterson  advanced  to  the  bar.     Terry  crowded  behind 
him,  and  slipped  a  derringer  into  his  pocket.     With  an 
oath  and  opprobrious  epithet,  Patterson  said, 

*'  Don't  mind  him.  He  is  not  worth  the  notice  of  a 
gentleman." 

Pinkham,  looking  steadily  at  Patterson,  with  his  habit- 
ual frown  deepened,  passed  out  upon  the  porch.  Patter- 
son went  through  the  opposite  door  to  the  swimming  pond, 


100   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

followed  by  Terry.  After  they  were  out,  he  handed  the 
derringer  back  to  Terry,  and  proceeded  with  his  bath. 
Terry  returned  to  the  bar,  and  going  around  to  the  desk, 
while  unobserved  by  Turner,  the  landlord,  thrust  a  revolver 
under  his  coat,  and  went  back  to  Patterson.  Doubtless 
he  told  Patterson  that  Pinkhani  and  his  friends  in- 
tended to  attack  him,  for  Patterson  was  observed  on  the 
moment  to  be  greatly  excited.  Pinkham's  friend,  who  knew 
both  Patterson  and  Terry,  told  Pinkham  that  mischief 
was  brewing,  and  suggested  their  innnediate  return  to 
town. 

"  No,*'  replied  Pinkham,  "  Avhcn  he  insulted  me  in  the 
bar-room  I  was  unarmed,  but  now  I  am  ready  for  him." 

"  But  it  is  better,"  suggested  his  friend,  *'  to  avoid  a 
collision.     No  one  doubts  your  courage." 

*'  I  will  not  be  run  off  by  the  rebel  hound,"  said  Pink- 
ham. *'  If  I  were  to  leave  it  would  be  reported  that  I 
had  *  weakened  '  and  fled  from  Patterson; —  and  you  know 
that  I  would  prefer  death  in  its  Morst  form  to  that." 

Patterson  hurried  out  of  the  bath,  dressed  himself  as 
quickly  as  possible,  and  v.ith  the  revolver  strapped  to 
his  side,  came  into  the  bar-room.  Calling  for  a  drink, 
in  a  loud  tone  and  with  much  expletive  and  appellative 
emphasis,  his  blood-drinking  eyes  glaring  in  all  directions, 
he  demanded  to  know  where  Pinkham  had  gone.  Turner, 
thinking  to  pacify  him,  replied  in  a  mild  tone, 

"  Away,  I  believe." 

Pinkiiam  at  this  moment  was  standing  by  a  banister 
on  the  porch,  engaged  in  conversation  with  a  friend 
by  the  name  of  Dunn.  He  was  unapprised  of  Patterson's 
return  to  the  saloon,  and,  from  the  tenor  of  his  conversa- 
tion, believed  he  would  be  warned  of  his  approach.  For 
the  impression  that  eacli  entertained  of  the  other's  inten- 
tion to  fire  upon  him,  and  that  both  were  awaiting  the 
opportunity  to  do  so,  these  men  were  indebted  to  the  mis- 


PINKHAM  AND  PATTERSON     101 

chievous  interference  of  those  friends  whose  wishes  were 
parent  to  the  thought. 

"  I  will  not  be  run  off  by  Patterson,"  said  Pinkham, 
"  nor  do  \.  wish  that  through  any  undue  advantage  he 
should  assassinate  me.  All  I  ask  is  fair  play.  My  pistol 
lias  only  five  loads  in  it." 

"  Stand  your  ground,  Pink,"  replied  Dunn.  "  I  have 
a  loaded  five-shooter,  and  will  stand  by  you  while  there 
is  a  button  on  my  coat." 

These  words  were  scarcely  uttered,  when  Patterson 
stepped  from  the  saloon  upon  the  porch.  Turning  to 
the  right,  he  stood  face  to  face  with  Pinkham.  The  fear- 
ful glare  of  his  bloody  eyes  was  met  by  the  deepening 
scowl  of  his  antagonist.  Hurling  at  Pinkham  a  degrading 
epithet,  he  exclaimed, 

"  Draw,  will  you  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  replied  Pinkham  with  an  oath,  "  I  will,"  and 
drawing  his  revolver,  poised  it  in  his  left  hand  to  facili- 
tate the  speed  of  cocking  it. 

Patterson,  with  the  rapidity  of  lightning,  drew  his, 
cocking  it  in  the  act,  and  firing  as  he  raised  it.  The 
bullet  lodged  under  Pinkham's  shoulder  blade.  Pinkham 
received  a  severe  nervous  shock  from  the  wound,  and 
delivered  his  shot  too  soon,  the  bullet  passing  over  the  head 
of  Patterson,  into  the  roof.  At  Patterson's  second  fire 
the  cap  failed  to  explode,  but  before  Pinkham,  who  was 
disabled  by  his  wound,  could  cock  his  pistol  for  another 
shot,  Patterson  fired  a  third  time,  striking  Pinkham  near 
the  heart.  He  reeled  down  the  steps  of  the  porch,  and 
fell  forward  upon  his  face,  trying  with  his  expiring 
strength  to  cock  his  revolver.  At  the  first  fire  of  Patter- 
son, Dunn  forgot  his  promise  to  stand  by  Pinkham.  Jump- 
ing over  the  banister,  he  sought  refuge  beneath  the  porch. 
Stealing  thence  when  the  firing  ceased,  he  ran  across  the 
street,   where,  protected  by  the  ample  trunk  of  a  large 


102   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

pine,  he  took  furtive  observation  of  the  catastrophe.  Pink- 
ham's  other  friend  came  from  the  rear  of  the  house  in  time 
to  assist  Turner  in  removing  his  body. 

Patterson's  friends,  some  seven  or  eight  in  number,  well 
pleased  with  the  result,  but  fearing  for  his  personal  safety, 
mounted  him  on  a  good  horse,  armed  him  with  revolvers, 
and  started  him  for  a  hurried  ride  to  Boise  City.  Half 
an  hour  served  to  carry  intelligence  of  the  encounter  to 
Idaho  City.  The  excitement  was  intense.  Pinkham's 
friends  were  clamorous  for  the  arrest  and  speedy  execu- 
tion of  Patterson ;  those  of  the  latter  avoided  a  collision 
by  keeping  their  own  counsel,  and  expressing  no  public 
opinion  in  justification  of  the  conduct  of  their  champion. 
Terry  and  James,  the  instigators  of  the  contest,  secreted 
themselves,  and  left  town  by  stealth  at  the  first  opportu- 
nity. Indeed,  many  of  Patterson's  friends  believed  that 
Terry  intended  that  the  affray  should  terminate  differ- 
ently. The  pistol  which  he  furnished  Patterson  had  been 
lost,  and  buried  in  the  snow  the  entire  winter  before  the 
encounter,  and  it  was  supposed  by  the  o\\-ner,  who  was 
afraid  to  fire  it  lest  it  should  explode,  that  the  loads  were 
rusted.  Terry  knew  of  this.  He  stood  in  personal  fear 
of  Patterson,  and  bore  an  old  grudge  against  him.  Here 
was  his  opportunity.  At  the  second  attempt  of  Patter- 
son to  fire,  the  pistol  failed,  and  the  wonder  is  that  it  went 
off  at  all. 

In  less  than  an  hour  after  the  tragedy,  Robbins,  an  old 
friend  and  former  deputy  of  Pinkham,  armed  with  a 
double-barrelled  shotgun  and  revolvers,  mounted  his  horse, 
and  left  town  alone,  in  swift  pursuit  of  Patterson.  He 
was  noted  for  bravery,  and  had  been  the  hero  of  several 
bloody  encounters.  At  a  little  wayside  inn,  seventeen 
miles  from  the  city,  he  overtook  the  fugitive,  who  had 
stopped  for  supper.  Patterson  came  to  the  door  as  he 
rode  up. 


PINKHAINI  AND  PATTERSON      103 

"  1  have  come  to  arrest  jou,  Ferd,"  said  he,  at  the  same 
time  raising  liis  gun  so  that  it  covered  Patterson. 

"All  right,  llobbins,  if  that's  your  object,"  replied 
Patterson,  as  he  handed  Robbins  his  revolver.  In  a  few 
moments  they  started  on  their  return.  Before  they  ar- 
rived at  town,  several  of  the  sheriff's  deputies  met  them, 
and  claimed  the  custody  of  Patterson,  llobbins  surren- 
dered him,  and  he  was  taken  to  the  county  jail. 

After  Patterson's  account  of  the  fight  had  been  cir- 
culated, the  community  became  divided  in  sentiment, 
tlie  Democrats  generally  espousing  the  cause  of  the 
prisoner,  the  Republicans  declaring  him  to  be  a  murderer. 

There  were  some  exceptions.     Judge  R ,  a  life-long 

Democrat,  and  a  Tennesseean  by  birth,  was  very  severe 
in  his  denunciation  of  Patterson.  He  distinguished  him 
as  the  most  marked  example  of  total  depravity  he  had 
ever  known,  and  related  the  following  incident  in  con- 
firmation of  this  opinion : 

Several  years  before  this  time,  Patterson  joined  in  an 
expedition  in  Northern  California,  to  pursue  a  band  of  In- 
dians who  had  been  stealing  horses  and  committing  other 
depredations  upon  the  property  of  the  settlers.  The  pur- 
suers captured  a  bright  Indian  lad  of  sixteen.  After  ty- 
ing him  to  a  tree,  they  consulted  as  to  what  disposition 
should  be  made  of  him.  They  were  unanimous  in  the 
opinion  that  he  should  not  be  freed,  but  were  concerned 
to  know  how  to  take  care  of  him.  Some  time  having 
elapsed  without  arriving  at  any  conclusion,  Patterson  sud- 
denly sprung  to  his  feet,  and  seizing  his  rifle,  said  with 
an  oath  that  he  would  take  care  of  him,  and  shot  the  poor 
boy  through  the  heart.  "  That  incident,"  said  the  judge, 
"  determined  for  me  the  brutal  character  of  the  wretch. 
His  whole  life  since  has  been  of  a  piece  with  it.  For  years 
he  has  been  a  '  bummer  '  among  men  of  his  class.  He  has 
lived  off  his   friends.      He  has  had  no  higher  aims  than 


104   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AXD  WAYS 

those  of  an  abandoned,  dissolute  gambler.  Pinkham, 
thougli  a  gainljlcr,  had  other  and  better  tendencies.  His 
schemes  for  the  future  looked  to  an  abandonment  of  his 
past  career,  and  he  was  in  no  sense  a  *  bummer.' " 

The  justice  of  this  criticism  was  unappreciated  by  Pat- 
terson's friends.  He  was  provided  with  comfortable  quar- 
ters in  the  jailer's  room,  and  accorded  the  freedom  of  the 
prison  yard.  His  friends  supplied  him  with  whiskey  and 
visited  him  daily  to  aid  in  drinking  it.  No  prisoner  of 
state  could  have  been  treated  with  greater  consideration. 
The  gamblers  and  soiled  doves  gave  him  constant  assurance 
of  sympathy.  Even  the  poor  wretch  he  had  scalped  at 
Portland  wrote  to  ascertain  if  she  could  do  anything  for 
"  poor  Ferd." 

Pinkham's  friends,  enraged  at  the  course  pursued  by 
the  officers  of  justice,  began  to  talk  of  taking  Patterson's 
case  into  their  own  hands.  The  example  of  the  Montana 
Vigilantes  excited  their  emulation.  When  they  finally  ef- 
fected an  organization,  several  of  Patterson's  friends 
gained  admission  to  it  by  professing  friendship  for  its 
object.  They  imparted  its  designs  and  progress  to  others. 
Patterson  was  informed  of  every  movement,  and  counselled 
his  adherents  what  measures  to  oppose  to  the  conspiracy 
against  his  life.  Meantime  the  Vigilantes  appointed  a 
meeting  for  the  purpose  of  maturing  their  plans,  to  be 
held  at  a  late  hour  of  the  evening,  in  a  ravine  across 
Moore's  Creek,  a  short  distance  from  the  city.  Patterson 
having  been  apprised  of  it,  was  anxious  to  obtain  personal 
knowledge  of  its  designs.  So  when  the  hour  arrived, 
representing  in  his  own  person  one  of  the  deputy  sheriffs 
with  the  consent  of  the  sheriff,  he  placed  himself  at  the 
head  of  an  armed  band  of  six  men  as  desperate  as  himself, 
and  stole  unperceived  from  the  jail-yard  to  a  point  within 
three  hundred  yards  of  the  rendezvous.  Here  they  sepa- 
rated.  Kach  with  a  cocked  revolver  approached  at  different 


PINKHAM  AND  PATTERSON     105 

points,  as  near  the  assemblage  as  safety  would  per- 
mit. Three  hundred  or  more  were  already  on  the  ground, 
and  others  constantly  arriving.  It  was  a  large  gather- 
ing for  the  occasion,  —  and  the  occasion  was  not  one  to 
inspire  with  pleasurable  emotions  the  mind  or  heart  of 
the  wretch  who  was  risking  his  life  to  gratify  his  curi- 
osity. Nevertheless,  he  crept  forward  till  within  seventy 
yards  of  the  chairman's  stand. 

The  place  of  meeting  was  partially  obscured  by  sev- 
eral clumps  of  mountain  pines,  which  grew  along  the  sides 
of  the  ravine,  and  enclosed  it  in  their  sombre  shade.  It 
was  bright  starlight.  When  the  gathering  was  complete 
and  had  settled  into  that  grim  composure  which  seemed 
to  await  an  opportunity  for  a  hundred  voices  to  be  raised, 
the  chairman  called  upon  a  Methodist  clergyman  present 
to  open  their  proceedings  with  prayer.  This  request,  at 
such  a  time,  must  appear  strange  to  the  minds  of  many 
of  my  readers.  And  yet,  why  should  it?  It  bore  testi- 
mony to  some  sincerity  and  some  solemnity  in  the  hearts 
of  the  people,  even  though  they  had  assembled  for  an  un- 
lawful, perhaps  some  of  them  for  a  revengeful,  purpose. 
They  felt,  doubtless,  that  the  law  did  not  and  would  not 
protect  them,  and  if  they  had  known  that  the  person 
whose  doom  they  were  there  to  decide,  at  that  very  mo- 
ment stood  near,  armed,  a  secret  observer  of  their  pro- 
ceedings, with  friends  within  the  call  of  his  voice  to  aid 
him  or  obey  his  orders,  they  might  very  properly  have 
concluded  that  the  law  exposed  them  to  outrage  and  mur- 
der. Prayer  had  no  mockery  in  it  in  such  an  exigency, 
Patterson  afterwards  jocosely  remarked  that  it  was  the 
first  prayer  he  had  listened  to  for  twenty  years.  Its  vari- 
ous petitions,  certainly,  could  not  have  fallen  pleasantly 
upon  his  ears. 

Patterson  returned  unobserved  to  the  jail  at  a  late  hour, 
fully  possessed  of  the  designs  of  the  committee.     A  sys- 


106  VIGILANTE  DAYS  AXD  WAYS 

tcin  of  espial  was  kept  up  by  liis  friends,  by  means  of 
which  the  sheriff  and  his  deputies  were  enabled  to  devise 
a  successful  counter-plot.  At  eleven  o'clock  in  the  morn- 
ing of  a  bright  Sabbath,  a  few  men  were  seen  congregat- 
ing upon  the  eastern  side  of  Moore's  Creek,  below  the 
town,  for  the  supposed  purpose  of  carrying  out  the  decis- 
ion of  the  previous  evening,  which  was  the  execution  of 
Patterson.  Patterson  and  thirty  of  his  friends,  armed 
to  the  teeth,  were  in  the  jail-yard  looking  through  loop- 
holes and  knot-holes,  anxiously  watching  them. 

When  their  numbers  had  reached  a  hundred,  a  signal 
was  given  to  the  sheriff.  He  quickly  summoned  a  posse 
of  one  hundred  and  fifty  men,  who  had  received  intimation 
that  their  services  would  be  needed.  Fully  armed,  they 
marched  slowly  to  a  point  on  the  west  side  of  Moore's 
Creek,  where  they  confronted  the  Vigilantes.  Nothing 
daunted  at  this  unexpected  demonstration,  the  latter 
quietly  awaited  the  arrival  of  several  hundred  more,  who 
had  promised  to  join  them.  Hours  passed,  but  they  came 
not.  Not  another  man  was  bold  enough  to  join  them. 
Robbins,  who,  after  much  persuasion,  had  consented  to 
act  as  their  leader,  was  greatly  disgusted,  and  for  three 
hours  declined  all  propositions  to  disband.  Every  hill 
and  housetop  was  crowded  with  spectators,  citizens  of 
Idaho  and  Buena  Vista  Bar,  anticipating  a  collision.  The 
newly  elected  delegate  to  Congress  was  on  the  ground, 
making  eager  exertions  to  precipitate  a  contest. 

"  Why  don't  you  fire  upon  them?  "  said  he,  with  a  vul- 
gar oath  to  the  sheriff.  "  You  have  ordered  them  to  dis- 
perse, and  still  permit  them  to  defy  you." 

The  sheriff,  though  a  determined,  was  a  kind-hearted 
man,  and  wished  to  avoid  bloodshed.  He  knew  if  his  men 
fired,  the  fire  would  be  returned,  and  a  bloody  battle  would 
follow.  He  was  also  aware  that  seven  hundred  or  more 
had  enrolled  their  names   in  the  ranks  of  the  Vigilantes, 


i 


PINKHAM  AND  PATTERSON     107 

courageous  men  and  good  citizens,  who  would  probably 
rally  to  the  assistance  of  their  comrades  in  case  of  an 
attack.  The  day  wore  on  with  nothing  more  serious  to 
interrupt  its  harmony  than  the  noisy  exchange  of  pro- 
fane epithets  and  vulgar  threats  between  the  two  bands, 
until  it  was  finally  agreed  that  persons  should  be  selected 
from  both  factions  to  work  up  the  terms  of  a  peace.  The 
result  was  that  the  Vigilantes  disbanded,  upon  the  sheriff's 
pledge  that  none  of  them  should  be  arrested,  and  Patter- 
son was  conveyed  to  prison  to  await  the  decision  of  a  trial 
at  law.  After  an  unsuccessful  effort  of  his  attorney  to 
have  him  admitted  to  bail,  the  sheriff  remanded  him  to 
custody. 

The  counsel  on  both  sides  prepared  for  trial  with  con- 
siderable energy.  The  evidence  was  all  reduced  to  writing. 
The  character  of  each  juryman,  the  place  of  his  nativity, 
and  his  political  predilections  were  ascertained  and  re- 
ported to  the  defendant's  counsel.  The  judge  and  sheriff 
were  required,  by  the  Idaho  law,  to  prepare  the  list  of 
talesmen  when  the  regular  panel  of  jurors  was  exhausted. 
In  the  performance  of  this  duty  in  Patterson's  case,  the 
judge  selected  Republicans,  and  the  sheriff  Democrats. 
When  the  list  was  completed,  and  the  venire  issued,  a  copy 
of  it  was  furnished  to  Patterson's  friends,  who  caused  to 
be  summoned  as  talesmen  such  persons  named  in  it  as 
were  suspected  of  enmity  to  the  accused,  in  order  that 
they  might  be  rejected  as  jurors.  The  preliminary  chal- 
lenges allowed  by  law  to  the  defendant  were  double  those 
allowed  to  the  prosecution.  With  all  these  advantages, 
the  defendant's  counsel  could  hardly  fall  in  selecting  a 
jury  favorable  to  their  client;  and  after  the  jury  was 
sworn,  such  was  Its  general  composition,  that  both  the 
friends  and  enemies  of  the  prisoner  predicted  an  acquit- 
tal. Nor  were  they  disappointed.  When  his  freedom  was 
announced  from  the  bench,  his  friends  flocked  around  him 


108   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

to  tender  tlieir  congratulations.  But  Patterson  was  not 
deceived.  He  felt  that  he  was  surrounded  by  enemies. 
Sullen  eyes  were  fixed  upon  him  as  he  walked  the  streets. 
Little  gatherings  of  the  friends  of  Pinkham  stood  on 
every  corner  in  anxious  consultation.  He  very  soon  con- 
cluded that  his  only  safety  was  in  departure.  At  first  he 
thought  of  returning  to  Texas,  but  the  allurements  around 
him  were  too  strong:  besides,  he  owed  considerable  sums 
of  money  to  the  friends  who  had  aided  him  in  making  his 
defence.  He  had,  moreover,  many  attached  friends,  wiio, 
by  promises  of  assistance,  sought  to  dissuade  him  from 
leaving  the  country.  Finally,  two  weeks  after  his  trial, 
he  left  Idalio  City  for  Walla  Walla. 

One  day  the  following  Spring,  Patterson  entered  a 
barber's  shop  for  the  purpose  of  getting  shaved.  Re- 
moving his  coat,  he  seated  himself  in  the  barber's  chair. 
A  man  by  the  name  of  Donahue  arose  from  a  chair  oppo- 
site, and,  advancing  towards  him,  said: 

"  Ferd,  you  and  I  can't  both  live  in  this  community. 
You  have  threatened  me."  As  Patterson  sprung  to  his 
feet,  Donahue  shot  him.  Staggering  to  the  street,  he 
started  towards  the  saloon  where  he  had  left  his  pistol, 
and  was  followed  by  Donahue,  who  continued  to  fire  at 
him,  and  he  fell  dead  across  the  threshold  of  the  saloon, 
thus  verifying  in  his  own  case  the  fatalistic  belief  of  his 
class,  "  He  died  with  his  boots  on." 

The  only  incident  of  Patterson's  trial  worthy  of  note 
was  the  following:  One  of  the  attorneys  who  had  been 
employed  for  a  purpose  disconnected  with  the  manage- 
ment of  the  trial,  insisted  upon  making  an  argument  to 
the  jury.  This  annoyed  his  colleagues,  antl  tlisgusted 
Patterson's  friends,  but  professional  etiquette  upon  the 
part  of  the  lawyers,  and  a  certain  indefinable  delicacy  from 
which   even   the  worst   of  men   are  not   wholly   estranged. 


PINKHAM  AND  PATTERSON      109 

prevented  all  interference,  and  the  advocate  launched  out 
Into  a  speech  of  great  length,  filled  with  indiscreet  asser- 
tions, slipshod  arguments,  and  ridiculous  appeals,  at  each 
of  which,  as  they  came  up,  one  of  the  shrewder  counsel 
for  the  defendant,  seated  beside  his  client,  filled  almost  to 
bursting  with  indignation,  would  whisper  in  his  ear  the 
ominous  words, 

"  There  goes  another  nail  into  your  coffin,  Ferd." 
Wincing  under  these  repeated  admonitions,  Patterson's 
eyes  assumed  their  blood-drinking  expression,  and  at  last 
tile    mental   strain   becoming   too   great   for   longer   com- 
posure, he  exclaimed  with  a  profane  curse, 

"  I  wish  it  had  been  he,  in  the  place  of  Old  Pinkham." 
Upon  the  trial  of  Donahue  the  jury  failed  to  agree. 
He  was  remanded  to  prison,  from  which  he  afterwards 
escaped,  ficd  to  California,  where  he  was  rearrested,  and 
released  upon  a  writ  of  habeas  corpus,  by  the  strange  de- 
cision that  the  provision  of  the  Constitution  of  the  United 
States  requiring  one  State  to  deliver  up  a  fugitive  from 
justice  to  another  claiming  him,  did  not  apply  to  Terri- 
tories. 

To  certain  of  my  readers,  some  explanation  for  detail- 
ing at  such  length  the  life  of  a  ruffian  and  murderer  may 
be  necessary.  Not  so,  however,  to  those  familiar  with 
mountain  history.  They  will  understand  that  both  Pat- 
terson and  Pinkliam  were  noted  and  important  members 
of  frontier  society,  representative  men,  so  to  speak,  of 
the  classes  to  which  they  belonged.  Their  followers  re- 
garded them  with  a  hero-worship  which  magnified  their 
faults  into  virtues,  and  their  acts  into  deeds  of  more  than 
chlvalric  daring.  Their  pursuits,  low,  criminal,  and  de- 
grading as  they  are  esteemed  in  old  settled  communities, 
were  among  the  leading  occupations  of  life  among  the 
miners.     Said  one  who  had  been  for  many  years  a  resi- 


110  VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

dent  of  the  Pacific  slope,  after  spending  a  few  weeks  in 
the  Atlantic  States:  "I  can't  stand  this  society.  It  is 
too  strict.  I  must  return  to  the  land  where  every  gam- 
bler is  called  a  gentleman,  and  where  every  woman,  no 
matter  what  her  character,  is  called  a  ladv." 


CHAPTER  XIII 
EARLY  DISCOVERIES  OF  GOLD 

GOLD  was  first  discovered  in  what  is  now  known  as 
Montana  by  Francois  Findlay,  better  known  as 
Bc-nct-see,  a  French  half-breed,  in  1852.  He  had  been 
one  of  the  early  miners  in  California,  having  gone  there 
from  his  home  in  the  Red  River  country  soon  after  Mar- 
shall's discovery.  At  this  time,  however,  he  was  engaged 
in  trapping  for  furs  and  trading  with  the  Indians.  While 
travelling  along  the  border  of  Gold  Creek  he  was  induced 
by  certain  indications  to  search  for  gold,  which  he  found 
in  the  gravelly  bed  of  the  stream. 

Intelligence  of  this  discovery  was  given  to  a  party  of 
miners  who  were  on  their  return  from  California  to  the 
States  in  1857,  and  they  immediately  resolved  to  visit  the 
creek  and  spend  a  winter  there  in  prospecting.  James 
and  Granville  Stuart  and  Resin  Anderson,  since  known 
as  prominent  citizens  of  Montana,  were  of  this  party,  and 
I  insert  here  as  an  interesting  bit  of  early  history  the 
narrative  which  Granville  Stuart  has  since  furnished  of 
the  discovery  then  made  by  them : 

"We  accordingly  -wintered  on  the  Big  Hole  River  just 
above  what  is  known  as  the  Backbone,  in  comjDany  with 
Robert  Dempsey,  Jake  Meeks,  Robert  Hereford,  Thomas 
Adams,  John  W.  Powell,  John  M.  Jacobs,  and  a  few  others. 
In  the  Spring  of  1858  we  went  over  into  the  Hell  Gate 
valley,  and  prospected  a  little  on .  Benetsee's  or  Gold  Creek. 
We  got  gold  everywhere,  in  some  instances  as  high  as  ten 
cents  to  the  pan,  but,  having  nothing  to  eat  save   what   our 

111 


112   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

rifles  furnished  us,  and  no  tools  to  work  with  (Salt  Lake  City, 
nearly  six  hundred  miles  distant,  being  the  nearest  point  at 
which  they  could  be  obtained),  and  as  the  accursed  Black- 
feet  Indians  were  continually  stealing  our  horses,  we  soon 
quit  prospecting  in  disgust  without  having  found  anything 
very  rich,  or  done  anything  to  enable  us  to  form  a  reliable 
estimate  of  the  richness   of  the  mines. 

"  We  then  went  out  on  the  road  near  Fort  Bridger,  Utah 
Territory,  where  we  remained  until  the  Fall  of  1860.  In  the 
Summer  of  that  year  a  solitary  individual  named  Henry 
Thomas,  better  known  to  the  pioneers  of  Montana,  however, 
as  '  Gold  Tom  '  or  '  Tom  Gold  Digger,'  who  had  been  sluic- 
ing on  the  Pend  d'Oreille  River,  came  up  to  Gold  Creek  and 
commenced  prospecting.  He  finally  hewed  out  two  or  three 
small  sluice-boxes  and  commenced  work  on  the  creek  up 
near  the  mountains.  He  made  from  one  to  two  dollars  a  day 
in  rather  rough,  coarse  gold,  some  of  the  pieces  weighing 
as  high  as  two  dollars, 

"  After  spending  a  few  weeks  there,  he  concluded  that  he 
could  find  better  diggings,  and  about  the  time  that  we  re- 
turned to  Deer  Lodge  (in  1860),  he  quit  sluicing  and  went 
to  prospecting  all  over  the  country.  His  favorite  camping 
ground  was  about  the  Hot  Springs,  near  where  Helena  now 
stands.  He  always  maintained  that  that  was  a  good  mining 
region,  saying  that  he  had  got  better  prospects  there  than  on 
Gold  Creek.  He  told  me  after  '  Last  Chance,'  '  Grizzly,' 
'  Oro  Fino,'  and  the  other  rich  gulches  of  that  vicinity  had 
been  struck,  that  he  had  jjrospected  all  about  there,  but  it 
was  not  his  luck  to  strike  any  of  those  big  things. 

"About  the  twenty-ninth  of  April,  1862,  P.  W.  McAdow. 
who,  in  comjiatiy  with  A.  S.  Blake  and  Dr.  Atkinson  (both 
citizens  of  Montana),  had  been  j^rospecting  with  but  limited 
success  in  a  small  ravine  which  empties  into  Pioneer  Creek, 
moved  up  to  Gold  Creek  and  commenced  prospecting  about 
there.  About  the  tenth  of  May  they  found  diggings  in  what 
we  afterwards  called  Pioneer  Creek.  They  got  as  high  as 
twenty  etnts  to  the  pan.  and  immediately  began  to  prepare 
for  extensive  operations.     At   this  lime  '  Tom  Ciold   Digger  ' 


JAMES   STUAKT 

Who  set  the  first  sluices  in  Montana 


EARLY  DISCOVERIES  113 

was  prospecting  on  Cottonwood  Creek,  a  short  distance  above 
where  the  flourishing  burgh  of  Deer  Lodge  City  now  stands, 
but  finding  nothing  satisfactory,  he  soon  moved  down  and 
opened  a  claim  above  those  of  McAdow  &  Co.  In  the  mean- 
time we  had  set  twelve  joints  of  12x14  sluices,  this  being 
the  first  string  of  regular  sluices  ever  set  in  the  Rocky 
Mountains  north  of  Colorado. 

"  On  the  twenty-fifth  of  June,  1862,  news  reached  us  that 
four  steamboats  had  arrived  at  Fort  Benton  loaded  with 
emigrants,  provisions,  and  mining  tools,  and  on  the  twenty- 
ninth  Samuel  T.  Hauser,  Frank  Louthen,  Jake  ISIonthe,  and 
a  man  named  Ault,  who  were  tlie  advance  guard  of  the  pil- 
grims to  report  upon  the  country  from  personal  observation, 
came  into  our  camp.  After  prospecting  on  Gold  Creek  for 
a  few  days,  Hauser,  Louthen,  and  Ault  started  for  the 
Salmon  River  mines  by  way  of  the  Bitter  Root  Valley.  Jake 
Monthe,  that  harum-scarum  Dutchman  who  wore  the  hat 
that  General  Lyon  had  on  when  he  was  killed  in  the  battle 
of  Wilson's  Creek,  continued   prospecting  along  Gold  Creek. 

"  Walter  B.  Dance  and  Colonel  Hunkins  arrived  on  the 
tenth  of  July,  and  on  the  fourteenth  we  had  the  first  election 
ever  held  in  the  country.  It  was  marked  by  great  excitement, 
but  nobody  was  hurt  —  except  by  whiskey. 

"  On  the  fifteenth.  Jack  jNIendenhall,  with  several  com- 
panions, arrived  at  Gold  Creek  from  Salt  Lake  City.  They 
set  out  for  the  Salmon  River  mines,  but  having  reached 
Lemhi,  the  site  of  a  Mormon  fort  and  the  most  northern  set- 
tlement of  the  '  Saints,'  they  could  proceed  no  farther  in  the 
direction  of  Florence  owing  to  the  impassable  condition  of 
the  roads,  so  they  cached  their  wagons,  packed  their  goods 
on  the  best  conditioned  of  their  oxen,  and  turned  off  for 
Gold  Creek.  They  lost  their  way  and  wandered  about  until 
nearly  starved,  when  they  fortunately  found  an  Indian  guide, 
who  piloted  them  through  to  the  diggings.  On  the  twenty- 
fifth  Hauser  and  his  party,  having  failed  to  reach  Florence, 
also  returned  nearly  starved  to  death." 

Tlie  leading  men  among  this  little  band  of  pioneers 
were  admirably  qualified  to  grapple  with  the  varied  diffi- 


114   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

culties  and  dangers  incident  to  their  exposed  situation. 
The  brothers  Stuart,  Samuel  T.  Hauscr,  and  Walter  B. 
Dance  were  among  the  most  enterprising  and  intelligent 
citizens  of  Montana,  and  to  the  direction  which  they,  by 
their  prudence  and  counsel,  gave  to  public  sentiment,  when 
with  twenty  or  thirty  others,  they  organized  the  first 
mining  camp  in  what  is  now  Montana,  was  the  Territory 
afterwards  indebted  for  the  predominance  of  those  princi- 
ples which  saved  the  people  from  the  bloody  rule  of  assas- 
sins, robbers,  and  wholesale  murderers.  They  were  men 
bred  in  the  hard  school  of  labor.  They  brought  their 
business  habits  and  maxims  with  them,  and  put  them 
rigidly  into  practice.  Having  heard  of  the  lawlessness 
which  characterized  the  Salmon  River  camps,  and  of  the 
expulsions  which  had  taken  place  there,  the}'  were  on  the 
alert  for  every  suspicious  arrival  from  that  direction. 

On  the  twi'iity-fifth  of  August,  William  Arnett,  C.  W. 
Spillman,  and  13.  F.  Jcruigan  arrived  at  Gold  Creek  from 
Elk  City.  They  opened  the  first  gambling  establishment 
in  Montana  and  satisfied  the  good  people  of  Gold  Creek 
before  the  close  of  their  first  day's  residence  that  they  were 
the  advance  guard  of  the  outcasts  of  Salmon  River.  Vic- 
tims flocked  around  them  in  encouraging  numbers.  The 
highway  of  villainy  seemed  to  stretch  out  before  them 
with  flattering  promise.  Four  days  had  elapsed  since 
their  arrival.  The  little  society  was  fearfully  demoral- 
ized, and  whiskey  and  dice  ruled  the  hour,  when  the  Neme- 
sis appeared.  Two  men,  Fox  and  Bull,  came  in  pursuit 
of  the  gamblers  for  horse-stealing.  Creeping  upon  them 
while  busy  at  play,  the  first  notice  the  poor  wretches  had 
of  their  approach  was  to  find  themselves  covered  with 
double-barrelled  guns  which  were  instantly  discharged. 
Arnett  fell,  riddled  with  bullets.  Fox's  gun  missed  fire. 
Jernigan  threw  up  his  hands,  and  he  and  Spillman  were 
arrested  without   resistance.     Arnett   died  with   a  death 


EARLY  DISCOVERIES  115 

clutch  of  his  cards  in  one  liand  and  revolver  in  the  other, 
and  was  so  buried. 

The  next  day  Jernigan  and  Spilhnan  were  fairly  tried 
by  a  jury  of  twenty-four  miners.  The  former  was  ac- 
quitted, the  latter  sentenced  to  be  hung,  which  sentence 
was  executed  in  the  afternoon  of  the  following  day.  This 
was  the  first  expression  of  Vigilante  justice  in  that  por- 
tion of  the  Northwest  which  afterwards  became  Montana. 
Mr.  Stuart  says,  "  Spilhnan  was  either  a  man  of  a  lion 
heart  or  a  hardened  villain,  for  he  died  absolutely  fearless. 
After  receiving  his  sentence,  he  wrote  a  letter  to  his  father 
with  a  firm,  bold  hand  that  never  trembled,  and  walked 
to  his  death  as  unto  a  bridal." 

The  news  of  the  discovery  of  the  Oro  Fino  and  Flor- 
ence mines  Avas  received  at  Denver  in  the  Winter  of  1861- 
62,  and  caused  a  perfect  fever  of  excitement.  Colonel 
McLean,  AVashington  Stapleton,  Dr.  Glick,  Dr.  Leavitt, 
Major  Brookie,  H.  P.  A.  Smith,  Judge  Clancy,  Edward 
Bissell,  Columbus  Post,  IMark  Post,  and  others,  all  left 
early  in  the  Spring,  taking  the  route  by  the  overland  road, 
from  which  they  intended  to  diverge  into  the  northern 
wilderness  at  some  point  near  Fort  Bridger.  Another 
party  under  the  leadership  of  Captain  Jack  Russell  left 
soon  after,  going  by  the  way  of  the  Sweetwater  trail, 
South  Pass,  and  the  Bridger  cut-off. 

My  readers  who  have  never  seen  the  plains,  rivers, 
canons,  rocks,  and  mountains  of  the  portion  of  our  coun- 
try travelled  by  these  companies,  can  form  but  a  faint 
idea  from  any  description  given  by  them  of  the  innumer- 
able and  formidable  difficulties  with  which  every  mile  of 
this  weary  march  was  encumbered.  History  has  assigned 
a  foremost  place  among  its  glorified  deeds  to  the  passage 
of  the  Alps  by  Napoleon,  and  to  the  long  and  discourag- 
ing march  of  the  French  army  under  the  same  great  con- 
queror to  Russia.     If  it  be  not  invidious  to  compare  small 


110   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

things  with  great,  we  may  assuredly  claim  for  these  early 
pioneers  greater  conquests  over  nature  on  their  journey 
through  the  northwestern  wilderness  than  were  made  by 
either  of  the  great  military  expeditions  of  Napoleon.  In 
addition  to  natural  obstacles  equally  formidable  and  of 
continual  occurrence  for  more  than  a  thousand  miles,  their 
route  lay  through  an  unexplored  region,  beset  b}'  hostile 
Indians,  bristling  with  mountain  peaks,  pierced  with  large 
streams,  and  unmarked  with  a  single  line  of  civilization. 
Their  cattle  and  horses  were  obliged  to  subsist  upon  the 
scanty  herbage  which  put  forth  in  early  spring.  Swollen 
by  the  melting  snows  of  the  mountains,  the  streams,  ford- 
able  in  midsununer,  could  now  be  crossed  only  by  boats, 
and  frequently  the  passage  of  a  single  creek  consumed  a 
week  of  time.  Seeking  for  passes  around  and  through  the 
ranges,  ascending  them  when  no  such  conveniences  could 
be  found,  passing  through  canons,  and  clambering  rocks, 
filled  the  path  of  empire  through  western  America  with 
discouragement  and  disaster. 

Several  of  these  companies  were  obliged  to  wait  the  sub- 
sidence of  the  waters  at  the  crossing  of  Smith's  fork  of 
Bear  River.  While  thus  delayed,  more  than  a  hundred 
teams,  comprising  three  or  four  trains,  all  bound  for  the 
new  gold  regions,  arrived.  Some  of  the  companies  were 
composed  entirely  of  "  pilgrims,"  a  designation  given  by 
moimtain  people  to  newcomers  from  the  States.  Michaud 
I.e  Clair,  a  French  fur-trader  and  mountaineer  of  forty 
years'  experience,  had,  in  company  with  two  others,  built 
a  toll  bridge  across  the  fork  in  anticipation  of  a  large 
spring  emigration;  but  a  party  arriving  in  advance  of  this 
present  crowd,  exasperated  at  the  depth  of  the  mud  at 
the  end  of  the  bridge,  burned  it.  Russell  proposed  to 
build  another,  but  the  pilgrims,  having  no  faith  in  his  skill, 
refused  to  assist.  Russell  completed  the  job  on  his  own 
account,   and   charged  the  pilgrims  one  dollar  each  for 


GRAXVILLE   STIART 

WJw  set  the  prst  sluices  in  Muntdiui 


EARLY  DISCOVERIES 


117 


crossing,  and  then  offered  to  release  his  interest  in  the 
bridge  for  twenty-five  dollars.  Le  Clair,  thinking  that 
Russell  would  go  on  with  his  company,  refused  the  offer. 
Russell,  Bro\m,  and  Warner  sent  their  train  ahead,  re- 
maining at  the  bridge  to  receive  tolls.  Several  trains 
passed  during  the  two  succeeding  days,  greatly  to  the 
annoyance  of  Le  Clair  and  his  comrades.  They  attempted 
to  retaliate  by  cutting  the  lariats  of  the  horses  while 
tethered  for  the  night ;  and  when  they  found  that  the  ani- 
mals did  not  stray  far  from  camp,  they  sent  the  savages 
down  to  frighten  Russell  and  his  men.  But  they  were  old 
mountaineers,  and  felt  no  alarm.  On  the  third  day  a 
much  larger  number  of  wagons  crossed  than  on  both  the 
preceding  days.  The  Frenchman,  tired  of  expedients  and 
satisfied  that  money  could  be  made  by  paying  Russell  the 
price  he  demanded  for  the  bridge,  sent  for  him,  and,  after 
considerable  negotiation,  gave  him  the  twenty-five  dollars 
and  a  silver  watch.  The  bridge  temporarily  erected  by 
Russell  was  used  as  a  toll  bridge  the  following  year,  but 
it  required  very  careful  usage  to  prevent  It  from  falling 
to  pieces.  The  proprietors,  fearful  of  accident,  finally 
posted  up  the  following  placard,  as  a  warning  to  travel- 
lers that  heavily  laden  wagons  would  not  be  permitted  to 
meet  upon  the  bridge : 


NOTIS 

No  Vehacle  draWn  by  moaR  than 
oneanamileis  ailoud  to  croS  this 
BRidg  in  oPposit  direxionsat  the 
sam  Time 


Le  Clair  also  advised  Russell  against  a  prosecution  of 
his  journey  to  the  Salmon  River  region,  assuring  him  that 
from  long  familiarity  with  the  country,  he  knew  he  could 


118  VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

not  complete  it  in  safety.  The  season  was  too  far  ad- 
vanced and  the  streams  were  higher  than  usual.  He  then 
told  him  as  a  secret  that  there  was  gold  at  Deer  Lodge 
and  on  the  Beaverhead.  The  Indians  had  often  found  it 
there,  and  if  gold  was  his  object,  he  could  find  no  better 
country  than  either  of  these  localities  for  prospecting. 

"  I  have  been,"  said  he,  "  boy  and  man,  forty  years  in 
this  region,  and  there  is  no  part  of  it  that  I  have  not  often 
visited.     You  will  find  my  advice  correct." 

Russell  placed  great  confidence  in  what  I^e  Clair  said. 
Hastening  on,  he  overtook  his  companions,  and  they  pro- 
ceeded to  Snake  River  near  Fort  Hall,  an  old  post  of  the 
North-westeni  Fur  Company.  Here  they  fell  in  with  Mc- 
Lean's train,  which,  as  we  have  seen,  left  Denver  a  few 
days  before  they  did,  and  travelled  by  another  route.  One 
of  this  latter  company,  Columbus  Post,  was  drowned 
while  attempting  to  cross  the  river  in  a  poorly  constructed 
boat,  made  out  of  a  wagon-box.  Russell  found  an  old 
ferry-boat  near  the  fort,  whidi  the  men  repaired  to  answer 
the  purpose  of  crossing  their  trains,  and  they  proceeded 
on  through  the  dreary  desert  of  mountains  and  rock  in 
the  direction  of  the  Salmon  River.  Superadded  to  the 
difficulties  of  travelling  over  a  rough  volcanic  region,  they 
were  now,  for  successive  days,  until  they  left  the  valley  of 
the  Snake,  attacked  by  the  Bannack  Indians,  and  their 
horses  were  nightly  exposed  to  capture  by  them.  After 
many  days  of  adventurous  travel,  the  whole  party,  with  a 
great  number  of  pilgrims,  arrived  in  safety  at  Fort  Lemhi. 
Here  they  found  themselves  hemmed  in  by  the  Salmon 
River  range,  a  lofty  escarpment  of  ridges  and  rocks  pre- 
senting an  insurmoimtable  barrier  to  further  progress 
with  wagons.  They  had  yet  to  go  several  hundred  miles 
before  reaching  the  gold  regions.  A  large  number,  more 
than  a  thousand  In  all,  wore  now  congregated  in  tiiis  deso- 
late basin.     They  at  once  set  to  work  to  manufacturo 


EARLY  DISCOVERIES  119 

]);ick-sacldles  and  other  gear  necessary  to  the  completion 
of  their  journey.  As  time  wore  on,  the  prospect  of  being- 
able  to  do  so  before  cold  weather  set  in  became  daily  more 
discouraging.  At  length  a  meeting  was  called  to  consider 
the  situation  of  affairs,  and  if  possible,  to  devise  and  adopt 
measures  of  relief. 

Russell  repeated  to  the  assemblage  the  information  he 
had  received  from  Le  Clair,  expressing  his  belief  that  it 
was  true,  and  recommended  as  a  choice  of  evils  that  they 
should  turn  aside,  and  go  to  Deer  Lodge  and  Beaverhead, 
rather  than  attempt  a  journey  down  the  Salmon  to  the 
Florence  mines,  through  a  country  of  which  their  best 
information  was  disheartening  in  the  extreme.  Several 
members  of  the  Colorado  companies  spoke  of  having  seen 
letters  from  James  and  Granville  Stuart  in  which  the 
discovery  of  promising  gold  placers  in  Deer  Lodge  was 
mentioned ;  but  the  pilgrims  thought  the  information  too 
indefinite,  and  concluded  to  risk  the  journey  down  the 
river.  The  Colorado  men,  most  of  whom  were  experi- 
enced miners,  determined  at  once  to  retrace  their  way  to 
Deer  Lodge  and  Beaverhead,  and  risk  the  chance  of  mak- 
ing new  discoveries,  if  the  information  given  by  the 
Stuarts  and  Le  Clair  should  not  prove  true.  At  the  cross- 
ing of  the  Beaverhead,  Russell  found  five  cents  in  gold  to 
the  pan,  and  picked  up  pieces  of  quartz  containing  free 
gold. 

In  the  meantime,  John  White  and  a  small  party  of  pros- 
pectors had  discovered  the  gold  placer  in  the  canon  of 
Grasshopper  Creek  which  afterwards  became  Bannack. 
When  the  companies  of  McLean  and  Russell  arrived 
there,  their  stock  of  provisions  was  nearly  exhausted. 
They  went  to  Deer  Lodge,  hoping  to  find  a  more  promis- 
ing field,  and  some  of  them  visited  the  placers  on  Gold 
Creek,  Pioneer,  and  at  Pike's  Peak  Gulch,  none  of  which 
were  equal  in  richness  and  extent  to  the  one  they  had  left 


120  VIGILANTE  DAYS  AXD  WAYS 

behind  them.  Tlicy  returned  to  Grasshopper.  No  pro- 
visions having  arrived  in  the  country,  most  of  them  de- 
cided to  attempt  a  return  to  Salt  Lake  City.  The  chance 
of  making  a  journey  of  four  hundred  miles  to  the  nearest 
Mormon  settlements  was  preferable  to  starvation  in  this 
desolate  region.  They  could  but  die  in  the  effort,  and 
might  succeed.  After  they  had  started  on  this  Utopian 
journey,  Russell  mounted  his  horse,  followed  them,  and 
persuaded  them  to  return.  They  then  set  to  work  in  good 
earnest  and  found  gold  in  abundance ;  but,  with  the  for- 
tune of  Midas,  as  their  scanty  supply  of  food  lessened 
daily,  they  feared  soon  to  share  his  fate  also,  and  have 
notiiing  but  gold  to  eat.  Just  at  this  crisis,  however, 
their  Pactolus  appeared  in  the  shape  of  a  large  train  of 
provisions  belonging  to  Mr.  Woodmansee,  and  all  fear 
of  starvation  vanished.  The  step  between  the  extremes 
of  misery  and  happiness  was,  in  this  case,  very  short. 
The  camp  was  hilarious  with  joy  and  mirth. 

Upon  the  opening  of  Spring,  Russell  left  Grasshopper 
on  his  return  to  Colorado,  where  he  arrived  in  safety  after 
encountering  dangors  enough  to  fill  a  moderate  volume. 
For  two  days,  while  passing  through  Marsh  Valley,  he 
was  pursued  by  Indians,  barely  escaping  being  shot  and 
scalped.  His  courage  Mas  often  put  to  the  strongest 
tests.  At  Wood  River,  twenty  miles  from  Fort  Lemhi, 
the  Bannack  Indians  offered  him  money  in  large  amounts 
for  fire-arms  and  nnnnunltion.  They  stole  a  pistol  from 
him.  Accompanied  hy  one  Gibson,  he  went  to  their  camp 
and  recovered  it.  Some  of  them  were  dressed  in  the  ap- 
parel of  women  whom  they  had  nnirdercd,  and  whose 
bodies  they  had  concealed  in  the  fissures  of  the  lava-beds 
on  Snake  River.  More  than  two  hundred  emigrants  had 
been  killed  by  these  wretches  the  preceding  Summer. 

Russell  exhibited  specimens  of  the  gold  taken  from  thti 
"  Grasshopper  diggings,"  to  his  friends  in  Colorado.    The 


EARLY  DISCOVERIES 


121 


excitement  it  occasioned  was  intense,  and  when  the  Spring 
of  1863  opened,  large  numbers  left  for  the  new  and  prom- 
ising El  Dorado. 

In  the  Fall  of  1862  there  stood,  on  the  bank  at  the  con- 
fluence of  Rattlesnake  Creek  and  tlie  Beaverhead  River,  a 
sign-post  with  a  rough-hewn  board  nailed  across  the  top, 
with  the  following  intelligence  daubed  with  wagon-tar 
thereon : 


Tu  grass  Hop  Per  digins 

30  myle 

^^"kepe  the  Trale  nex  the  bluffe 


On  the  other  side  of  the  board  was  the  following; 


Tu  jonni  grants 
one  Hunred  &  twenti  myle 


The  "  grass  Hop  Per  digins  "  are  at  the  town  of  Ban- 
nack;  and  the  city  of  Deer  Lodge  is  built  on  "jonni 
grants  "  ranche. 


CHAPTER  XIV 

CAPTAIN  FISK'S  EXPEDITION 

WHILE  the  little  community  at  Bannack  were  snuglj 
housed  for  the  winter,  anxiously  awaiting  the  re- 
turn of  warm  weather  to  favor  a  resumption  of  labor  in 
the  gulch,  numerous  companies  were  in  progress  of  or- 
ganization in  the  States,  intending  to  avail  themselves  of 
the  same  seasonable  change  to  start  upon  the  long  and 
adventurous  journey  to  Salmon  River.  The  fame  of  Ban- 
nack and  Deer  I^odge  had  not  yet  reached  them.  In  the 
Summer  of  1862  an  expedition  under  the  direction  of  the 
Government  was  planned  in  Minnesota  for  the  ostensible 
purpose  of  opening  a  wagon  road  between  St.  Paul  and 
Fort  Benton,  to  coiuiect  at  the  latter  point  with  the  mili- 
tary road  opened  a  few  years  before  by  Captain  John 
Mullen  from  Fort  Benton  to  Walla  Walla.  This  route 
of  nearly  two  thousand  miles  lay  for  most  of  the  distance 
through  a  partially  explored  region,  filled  with  numerous 
bands  of  the  hostile  Sioux  and  Blackfeet.  The  Govern- 
ment had  gi'udgingly  appropriated  the  meagre  sum  of  five 
thousand  dollars  in  aid  of  the  enterprise,  which  was  not 
sufficient  to  pay  a  competent  guard  for  the  protection  of 
the  company.  The  quasi-governmental  character  of  the 
expedition,  however,  with  the  inducement  superadded  that 
it  would  visit  the  Salmon  River  mines,  soon  caused  a  large 
number  of  emigrants  to  join  it. 

The  Northern  Overland  Expedition,  as  it  was  called, 
left  St.  Paul  on  the  sixteenth  of  June,  18()!2.  It  was  con- 
fided to  the  leadersliip  of  Captain  James  L.  Fisk,  whose 

122 


«l 


CAPTAIN  FISK'S  EXPEDITION   123 

previous  frontier  experience  and  unquestioned  personal 
courage  admirably  fitted  him  for  the  command  of  an  expe- 
dition which  owed  so  much  of  its  final  success,  as  well  as  its 
safety  during  a  liazardous  journey  through  a  region  occu- 
pied by  hostile  Indians,  to  the  vigilance  and  discipline  of  its 
commanding  officer.  His  first  assistant  was  E.  H.  Burritt, 
and  second  assistant,  N.  P.  Langford  (the  writer)  ;  Sam- 
uel R.  Bond,  secretary,  David  Charlton,  engineer,  Dr.  W. 
D.  Dibb,  surgeon,  and  Robert  C.  Knox,  wagon  master. 
About  forty  men  were  selected  from  the  company,  who 
agreed,  for  their  subsistence,  to  serve  as  guards  during 
the  journey.  One  hundred  and  twenty-five  emigrants  ac- 
companied the  expedition  to  Prickly  Pear  Valley.  This 
company  was  thoroughly  organized,  and  ready  at  all  times 
for  instant  service  while  passing  through  Indian  country. 
Fort  Abercrombie,  Devil's  Lake,  Fort  Union,  Fort  Ben- 
ton,* and  Milk  River  were  designated  points  of  the  route, 
and  it  Avas  generally  understood  that  the  company  should 
pursue  as  nearly  as  possible  the  trail  of  the  exploring 
expedition  under  command  of  Governor  Isaac  I.  Stevens 
in  1853. 

All  the  streams  not  fordable  on  the  entire  route  were 
bridged  by  the  company  and  many  formidable  obstacles 
removed.  The  company  arrived  without  accident,  after  a 
tedious  but  not  uninteresting  trip,  in  Prickly  Pear  Valley 
on  the  twenty-first  day  of  September.  It  was  the  largest 
single  party  that  went  to  the  northern  mines  in  1862. 
About  one-half  of  the  number  remained  in  the  Prickly  Pear 
Valley,  locating  upon  the  creek  where  Montana  City  now 
stands.  The  remainder  accompanied  Captain  Fisk  to 
Walla  Walla.  All  who  were  officially  connected  with  the 
expedition,  except  Mr.  Knox  and  the  writer,  returned  by 
way  of  the  Pacific  Ocean  and  the  Isthmus  to  Washington. 

*Fort  Uniou  and  Fort  Benton  were  not  United  States  military 
forts,  but  were  the  old  trading  posts  of  the  American  Fur  Company. 


124   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

Gold  had  been  found  on  Prickly  Pear  Creek  a  short 
time  before  the  arrival  of  our  company.  "  Tom  Gold 
Digger,"  or  "  Gold  Tom,"  had  pitched  his  lodge  at  the 
mouth  of  the  canon  above  our  location  and  was  "  panning 
out  "  small  quantities  of  gold.  The  placer  was  very  diffi- 
cult of  development  and  the  yiehl  small.  Winter  was  near 
at  hand.  Many  of  the  party  who  had  left  home  for  Sal- 
mon River,  where  they  had  been  assured  profitable  em- 
ployment could  be  readily  obtained,  now  found  themselves 
five  hundred  miles  from  their  destination  with  cattle  too 
much  exhausted  to  attempt  the  journey,  in  the  midst  of 
a  wilderness,  nearly  destitute  of  provisions,  and  with  no 
chance  of  obtaining  any  nearer  than  Salt  Lake  City,  four 
hundred  miles  away,  from  which  they  were  separated  by 
a  region  of  mountainous  country,  rendered  impassable  by 
deep  snows  and  beset  for  the  entire  distance  by  hostile  In- 
dians. Starvation  seemingly  stared  them  in  the  face.  Dis- 
heartening as  the  prospect  was,  all  felt  that  it  would  not 
do  to  give  way  to  discouragement.  A  few  traders  had 
followed  the  tide  of  emigration  from  Colorado  with  a 
limited  supply  of  the  bare  necessaries  of  life,  risking  tiie 
dangers  of  Indian  attack  by  the  way,  to  obtain  large 
profits  and  prompt  pay  as  a  rightful  reward  for  their 
temerity.  Regarding  their  little  stock  as  their  only  re- 
source, the  company  set  to  work  at  once,  each  man  for 
himself,  to  obtain  means  to  buy  with.  Prices  were  enor- 
mous. The  placer  was  still  unpromising.  Frost  and  snow 
had  actually  come.  With  a  small  pack  supplied  from  the 
remains  of  their  almost  exhausted  larders,  the  men  started 
out,  some  on  foot,  and  some  bestride  their  worn-out  ani- 
mals, into  the  bleak  mountain  wilderness  in  pursuit  ofJ 
gold.  With  the  certainty  of  death  in  its  most  horrid  form 
if  they  fell  into  the  clutches  of  a  band  of  prowling  Black- 
fcit,  and  the  thought  uppermost  in  their  minds  that  they' 
could  scarcely  escape  freezing,  surely  the  hope  which  sus- 


CAPTAIX    JAMES   L.    FISK 

Commander  of  Xorthcni   Overland  Expedition 


CAPTAIN  FISK'S  EXPEDITION   125 

talned  this  little  band  of  wanderers  lacked  none  of  those 
grand  elements  which  sustained  the  early  settlers  of  our 
country  in  their  days  of  disaster  and  suffering.  Men 
who  cavil  with  Providence,  and  attribute  the  escape  of  a 
company  of  half-starved,  destitute  men  from  massacre, 
starvation,  and  freezing,  under  circumstances  like  these, 
to  luck  or  chance  or  accident,  are  either  destitute  of 
gratitude  or  have  never  been  overtaken  by  calamity.  Yet 
these  men  all  survived  to  tell  the  tale  of  their  bitter  ex- 
perience. 

My  recollection  of  those  gloomy  days,  all  the  more 
vivid,  perhaps,  because  I  was  among  the  indigent  ones, 
was  emphasized  by  a  little  incident  I  can  never  recall 
without  a  devout  feeling  of  thankfulness.  Intelligence  was 
brought  us  that  a  company  of  miners  was  working  the  bot- 
tom of  a  creek  in  Pike's  Peak  Gulch,  a  distance  of  sixty 
miles  from  the  Prickly  Pear  camp  over  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tain range.  Cornelius  Bray,  Patrick  Dougherty,  and  I 
started  immediately  on  a  horseback  trip  to  the  new  camp 
in  search  of  employment  for  the  winter.  One  pack-horse 
served  to  transport  our  blankets  and  provisions.  Our  in- 
tention was  to  cross  the  main  range  on  the  first  day  and 
camp  at  the  head  of  Summit  Creek,  where  there  was  good 
grass  and  water.  In  following  the  Mullen  road  through 
the  caiion,  when  about  two  miles  from  the  ridge.  Bray's 
horse  gave  out  and  resisted  all  our  efforts  to  urge  him 
farther.  There  was  no  alternative  but  to  camp.  The  spot 
was  unpromising  enough.  There  was  no  feed  for  our 
horses,  and  our  camp  by  the  roadside  could  not  escape  the 
notice  of  any  band  of  Indians  that  might  chance  to  be 
crossing  the  range.  It  was  the  custom  in  this  Indian 
country  for  packers  and  others  to  seek  some  secluded 
spot  half  a  mile  or  more  from  the  trail  for  camping  pur- 
poses ;  but  here  we  were  cooped  up  in  a  canon  not  ten 
rods  wide,  and  the  only  practicable  pass  over  the  range 


126   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

running  directly  through  it.      Of  course  we  all  mentally 
hoped  that  no  Indians  would  appear. 

I  had,  while  at  Fort  Benton,  held  frequent  conversa- 
tions with  Mr.  Dawson,  the  factor  at  that  post,  who  had 
spent  many  3'cars  in  the  country,  and  was  perfectly  fa- 
miliar with  the  manners  and  tactics  of  the  Indians.  He 
had  warned  me  against  just  such  an  exposure  as  that  to 
which  we  were  now  liable,  and  when  night  came,  knowing 
that  the  country  was  full  of  roving  bands  of  Bloods  and 
Picgiins,  I  felt  no  little  solicitude  for  a  happy  issue  out  of 
danger.  Evening  was  just  setting  in,  when  snow  began  to 
fall  in  damp,  heavy  flakes,  giving  promise  of  a  most  un- 
comfortable nigiit.  Our  only  shelter  was  a  clump  of 
bushes  on  the  sunnnit  of  a  knoll,  where  we  spread  our 
blankets,  first  carefully  picketing  the  four  horses  with 
long  lariats  to  a  single  pin,  so  that  in  case  of  difficulty 
they  could  all  be  controlled  by  one  person.  Dougherty 
proposed  to  stand  guard  until  midnight,  when  I  was  to 
relieve  him  and  remain  until  we  resumed  our  trip  at  early 
dawn.  Bray  and  I  crept  into  our  blankets,  they  and  the 
bushes  being  our  only  protection  against  a  very  heavy 
mountain  snowstorm.  Strange  as  it  may  seem  to  those 
unfamiliar  with  border  life,  we  soon  fell  asleep  and  slept 
soundly  until  I  was  aroused  by  Dougherty  to  take  my  turn 
at  the  watch.  I  crawled  from  under  the  blankets,  which 
were  covered  to  the  depth  of  five  inches  with  "  the  beauti- 
ful snow,"  and  Dougherty  fairly  burrowed  into  the  warm 
place  I  had  left. 

About  three  o'clock  in  the  morning  the  horses  became 
uneasy  for  want  of  food.  Preparatory  to  an  carh'  de- 
parture I  gathered  in  a  large  heap  a  number  of  small, 
fallen  pines  and  soon  had  an  immense  fire.  It  lighted  up 
the  canon  with  a  lurid  gloom  and  mantled  the  snow- 
covered  trees  with  a  ghastly  radiance.  The  black  smoke 
of  the  burning  pileli   lolKd   in  clouds  through  the  atmos- 


CAPTAIN  FISK'S  EXPEDITION   127 

phcrc,  which  seemed  to  be  choked  with  the  myriad  snow- 
Hakes.  So  dense  was  the  storm  I  could  scarcely  discern 
the  horses,  which  stood  but  a  few  rods  distant.  Wading 
through  the  snow  to  the  spot  where  my  companions  slept, 
I  roused  them  from  their  slumbers.  I  could  liken  them 
to  nothing  but  spectres  as  they  burst  through  their  snowy 
covering  and  stood  half-revealed  in  the  bushes  by  the 
light  of  the  blazing  pines.  It  was  a  scene  for  an  artist. 
Despite  the  gloomy  forebodings  which  had  filled  my  mind, 
at  this  scene  I  burst  into  a  fit  of  loud  and  irrepressible 
laughter. 

It  was  but  for  a  moment,  for,  as  if  in  answer  to  it,  the 
counterfeited  neigh  of  a  horse  a  few  rods  below  and  of 
another  just  above  me,  warned  me  that  the  danger  I  had 
feared  was  already  upon  us.  It  was  the  signal  and  reply 
of  the  Indians.  Bray  and  Dougherty  grasped  their  guns, 
while  I  rushed  to  the  picket  pin,  and,  seizing  the  four 
lariats,  pulled  in  the  horses.  A  moment  afterAvards,  and 
from  behind  a  thicket  of  willows  just  above  our  camp, 
there  dashed  down  the  canon  in  full  gallop  forty  or  more 
of  the  dreaded  Blackfeet.  In  the  light  of  that  dismal  fire 
their  appearance  was  horribly  picturesque.  Their  faces 
hideous  with  war  paint,  their  long  ebon  hair  floating  to 
the  wind,  their  heads  adorned  with  bald-eagle  feathers, 
and  their  knees  and  elbows  daintily  tricked  out  with  strips 
of  antelope  skin  and  white  feathery  skunks'  tails,  they 
seemed  like  a  troop  of  demons  which  had  just  sprung  out 
of  the  earth,  rather  than  beings  of  flesh  and  blood.  Each 
man  held  a  gun  in  his  right  hand,  guiding  his  horse  with 
the  left.  Well-filled  quivers  and  bows  were  fastened  to 
their  shoulders,  and  close  behind  the  main  troop,  driven 
by  five  or  six  outriders,  followed  a  herd  of  fifty  or  more 
horses  they  had  just  stolen  from  a  company  of  miners  on 
their  way  to  the  Bannack  mines,  who  had  encamped 
for  the  night  at  Deer  Lodge.     These  animals  were  driven 


128  VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  AVAYS 

hurriedly  by  our  camp,  down  the  canon,  the  main  troop, 
meantime,  forming  into  line  on  the  other  side  of  them  so 
as  to  present  an  unbroken  front  of  horsemen  after  they 
had  passed,  drawn  up  for  attack.  This  critical  moment 
we  improved  by  rapidly  looping  the  lariats  into  the  mouths 
of  our  horses  and  bringing  our  guns  to  an  aim  from  be- 
hind them  over  their  fore-shoulders.  As  we  stood  thus, 
not  twenty  yards  asunder,  confronting  each  other,  the 
chief,  evidently  surprised  that  the  onslaught  lingered,  rode 
hurriedly  along  the  front  of  his  men  and  with  violent  ges- 
ticulations and  much  vehement  jargon  urged  them  to  an 
instant  assault.  They  strongly  expostulated,  and  by  nu- 
merous antics  and  utterances,  which  I  afterwards  ascer- 
tained meant  that  their  guns  were  wet  and  their  caps 
useless,  finally  persuaded  him  to  resort  to  the  bows  and 
arrows.  The  chief  was  very  angry,  and  from  the  violence 
of  his  gestures  and  threatening  manner  I  expected  to  see 
several  of  the  Indians  knocked  off  their  horses.  When 
the  Indians,  in  obedience  to  his  command,  hung  their  guns 
on  the  pommels  of  their  saddles,  and  drew  their  bows,  the 
attack  seemed  inevitable.  Our  guns  were  dry,  and  we 
knew  that  they  were  good  for  twenty-four  shots  and  the 
revolvers  in  our  belts  for  as  many  more. 

Satisfied  that  an  open  attack  would  eventuate  in  death 
to  some  of  their  number,  nearly  one-half  of  the  Indians 
left  the  ranks  and  passed  from  our  sight  down  the  canon, 
but  soon  reappeared,  emerging  from  the  thicket  on  the 
opposite  side  of  our  camp.  We  wheeled  our  four  horses 
into  a  hollow  square,  and,  standing  in  the  centre,  pre- 
sented our  guns  at  each  assaulting  party.  As  our  horses 
were  the  booty  they  most  wisiied  to  obtain,  they  were  now 
restrained  lest  they  should  kill  them  instead  of  us.  A  few 
moments  of  painful  suspense  —  moments  into  which  days 
of  anxiety  were  crowded  —  supervened.  A  brief  consulta- 
tion followed,  and  tiie  chief  gave  orders  for  them  to  with- 


CAPTAIN  FISK'S  EXPEDITION   129 

draw.  They  all  wheeled  into  rapid  line,  arid  with  the 
military  precision  of  a  troop  of  cavalry  dashed  down  the 
caiion  and  we  saw  them  no  more. 

Thankful  for  an  escape  attributable  to  the  snow  which 
had  unfitted  their  guns  for  use,  and  to  the  successful  raid 
they  had  made  upon  our  neighbors,  we  saddled  our  horses 
and  hurried  over  the  mountain  range  with  all  possible 
speed.  While  crossing,  we  found  two  horses  which,  jaded 
with  travel,  had  been  abandoned  by  the  Indians.  We 
took  them  with  us,  and  on  our  arrival  at  Grasshopper 
some  days  after,  restored  one  to  Dr.  Glick,  its  rightful 
owner. 

"  I  have  had  seven  horses  stolen  from  me  by  these 
prowlers,"  said  he,  "  but  this  is  the  first  one  that  was  ever 
returned." 

The  little  gulch  at  Pike's  Peak  was  fully  occupied  when 
we  arrived,  and  after  remaining  a  few  days,  we  mounted 
our  horses  and  made  a  tedious  but  unadventurous  journey 
to  Bannack,  then,  and  for  nearly  a  year  afterwards,  the 
most  important  gold  placer  east  of  the  Rocky  Mountains. 

The  fame  of  this  locality  had  reached  Salmon  River  late 
in  the  Fall  of  1862,  and  many  of  the  people  left  the  Flor- 
ence mines  for  the  east  side.  Among  them  came  the  first 
irruption  of  robbers,  gamblers,  and  horse-thieves,  and  the 
settlement  was  filled  with  gambling  houses  and  saloons, 
where  bad  men  and  worse  women  held  constant  vigil,  and 
initiated  that  reign  of  infamy  which  nothing  but  the 
strong  hand  could  extirpate. 


CHAPTER  XV  i 

I 

BANNACK  IN  1862  ^ 

IT  is  charitable  to  believe  that  Henry  Plummer  came  ■' 
to  Bannack  intending  to  reform,  and  live  an  honest 
and  useful  life.  His  deportment  justified  that  opinion. 
His  criminal  career  was  known  only  to  two  or  three  l( 
persons  as  criminal  as  himself.  If  he  could  have  been 
relieved  of  the  fear  of  exposure  and  of  the  necessity  of  as- 
sociating with  his  old  comrades  in  crime,  it  is  not  improb- 
able that  his  better  nature  would  have  triumphed.  He  pos- 
sessed great  executive  ability,  a  power  over  men  that 
was  remarkable,  a  fine  person,  polished  address,  and  pres- 
cient knowledge  of  his  fellows  —  all  of  which  were  mel- 
lowed by  the  advantages  of  a  good  carh'  education.  With 
all  the  concerns  of  a  mining  camp  experience  had  made 
him  familiar,  and  for  some  weeks  after  his  arrival  in  Ban- 
nack he  was  oftener  applied  to  for  counsel  and  advice  than 
any  other  resident.  Cool  and  dispassionate,  he  evinced 
on  these  occasions  a  power  of  analysis  that  seldom  failed 
of  conviction.  He  speedily  became  a  general  favorite. 
We  can  better  imagine  than  describe  the  mixed  nature  of 
those  feelings,  which,  fired  with  ambitious  designs  and 
virtuous  purposes,  beheld  the  way  to  their  fulfilment  dark- 
ened by  a  retrospect  of  unparalleled  atrocity.  So  true  it 
is  that  the  worst  men  arc  the  last  to  admit  to  themselves 
the  magnitude  of  their  offences,  that  even  Plummer,  stained 
with  the  guilt  of  repeated  murders  and  seductions,  a  very 
monster  of  Ini(]ulty,  believed  that  his  restoration  to  the 
pursuits  and  honors  of  virtuous  association  could  be  estab- 

ISO 


BANNACK  IN  1862  131 

lished  but  for  a  possible  exposure  by  some  of  his  guilty 
partners.  He  knew  their  watchful  eyes  were  upon  him; 
that  they  were  ready  to  follow  him  as  leader  or  crush  hira 
as  a  traitor. 

Of  no  one  was  he  in  greater  dread  than  his  sworn  enemy, 
Cleveland.  This  man,  who  made  no  secret  of  his  own 
guilty  purposes,  had  frequently  uttered  threats  against 
the  life  of  Plummer,  and  never  lost  an  opportunity  pub- 
licly to  denounce  him.  Their  feud  was  irreconcilable. 
Cleveland  had  incurred  suspicion  as  the  murderer  of  a 
young  man  by  the  name  of  George  Evans,  and  was  re- 
garded generally  as  a  desperado  of  the  vilest  character. 
It  was  no  credit  to  Plummer  that  he  came  in  his  company 
to  Bannack.  But  their  previous  criminal  connection  was 
as  3'et  unrevealed. 

A  few  days  after  the  disappearance  of  Evans,  a  num- 
ber of  citizens  were  seated  in  general  conversation 
around  the  fire  in  a  saloon  kept  by  Mr.  Goodrich.  Among 
the  number  were  Plummer,  Jeff  Perkins,  and  Augustus 
Moore.  Suddenly  the  door  was  violently  opened  and 
Cleveland  entered.  With  an  air  of  assumed  authority  he 
proclaimed  himself  "  chief,"  adding  with  an  oath  that  he 
knew  all  the  scoundrels  from  the  "  other  side  "  and  in- 
tended to  get  even  with  some  of  them.  The  covert  threat 
which  these  words  revealed  did  not  escape  the  notice  of 
Plummer,  but  Cleveland  upon  the  instant  charged  Per- 
kins with  having  violated  a  promise  to  pay  some  money 
which  the  latter  owed  him  in  the  lower  country.  Perkins 
assured  him  it  had  been  paid.  "  If  it  has,"  said  Cleveland, 
"  it  is  all  right,"  but  as  if  to  signify  his  distrust  of  Per- 
kins's statement,  he  commenced  handling  his  pistol  and 
reiterating  the  charges.  To  prevent  Cleveland  from  car- 
rying into  execution  his  apparent  design  of  shooting  Per- 
kins, Plummer  fixed  his  eyes  sternly  upon  him  and  in  a  calm 
tone  told  him  to  behave  himself,  that  Perkins  had  paid  the 
debt  and  he  ought  to  be  satisfied. 


132   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

Quiet  was  restored  for  the  moment  and  Perkins  slipped 
off,  intending  to  return  with  his  pistols  and  shoot  Cleve- 
land on  sight.  Here  the  difficulty  would  have  ended  had 
not  Cleveland,  in  an  evil  moment,  in  a  defiant  and  threaten- 
ing manner,  with  mingled  profanity  and  epithet,  declared 
that  he  did  not  fear  any  of  them.  Filled  with  rage, 
Plummer  sprang  to  his  feet,  drew  his  pistol,  and  exclaim- 
ing, "  I  am  tired  of  this,"  followed  up  the  expression  with 
a  couple  of  rapid  shots,  the  last  of  which  struck  Cleveland 
below  the  belt.  He  fell  on  his  knees.  Grasping  wildly  for 
his  pistol,  he  appealed  to  Plummer  not  to  shoot  him  while 
he  was  down.  "  No,"  said  Plummer,  whose  blood  was  now 
"P  '■>  "  get  up."  Cleveland  staggered  to  his  feet,  only  to 
receive  two  more  shots,  the  second  of  which  entered  below 
the  eye.  He  fell  to  the  floor,  and  Plummer,  sheathing  his 
pistol,  turned  to  leave  the  saloon.  At  the  door  he  was  met 
by  George  Ives  and  Charley  Reeves,  each  of  whom,  pistol 
in  hand,  was  coming  to  take  part  in  the  affray.  Each 
seizing  an  arm,  they  escorted  Plummer  down  the  street, 
meanwhile  suggesting  with  great  expletive  emphasis  a  va- 
riety of  surmises  as  to  the  possible  effect  of  the  quarrel 
upon  the  public. 

Hank  Crawford  and  Harry  Phlcger,  two   respectable 
citizens,  hastened  to  the  aid  of  the  dying  desperado,  whom 
they   conveyed   to    Crawford's    lodgings.      His   bed   being 
poorly  furnished  Cleveland  sent  him  to  Plummcr*s  cabin 
to  get  a  pair  of  blankets  belonging  to  him.     The  interview 
between  Crawford  and  Plummer  on  this  occasion  siiowed 
that  the  mind  of  the  latter  was  ill  at  ease.    Like  iNIacbeth's 
dread  of  Banquo,  so  he  felt  that,  while  Clcvchind  lived, — 
"  There  is  none  but  he 
Whose  being  I  do  fear;  and  under  him 
My  genius  is  rcbuk'd." 

In    the    brief   colloquy   which    took    place    between    them, 
PKnnmer  asked  Crawford  no  less  than  three  times  what 


BANNACK  IN  1862  183 

Jack  had  said  about  him.  His  past  career  of  crime  was 
all  before  him.     Crawford  as  often  replied,  "  Nothing." 

"  'T  is  well  he  did  not,"  at  length  responded  Plummer, 
"  for  if  he  had  I  would  kill  him  in  his  bed." 

Crawford  then  told  him  that,  in  reply  to  several  ques- 
tions asked  him,  Cleveland  had  said, 

"  Poor  Jack  has  got  no  friends.  He  has  got  it  [mean- 
ing his  death-wound]  and  I  guess  he  can  stand  it," 

Crawford  left  with  the  impression  that  Plummer  still 
thought  Cleveland  had  exposed  him,  and  was  careful  after- 
wards to  go  armed,  as  he  felt  that  his  own  life  was  in  dan- 
ger. Cleveland  lingered  in  great  agony  for  three  hours, 
and  was  decently  buried  by  CraAvford.  Soon  after  he  had 
been  removed  to  Crawford's  cabin,  Plummer  sent  a  man 
known  as  "  Dock,"  a  cook,  into  the  cabin  as  a  spy,  where 
he  remained  until  Cleveland  died.  He  said  that  the  only 
reply  Phleger  received  to  repeated  questions  concerning 
the  difficulty  between  him  and  Plummer  was,  "  It  makes  no 
difference  to  you."  The  secret,  if  secret  there  w^as,  died 
with  him. 

No  immediate  investigation  was  made  of  the  circum- 
stances of  this  affray.  It  was  thought  by  many  that  Plum- 
mer merely  anticipated  Cleveland's  intention  by  firing 
first.  Shooting  of  pistols  and  duelling  were  so  common 
as  of  themselves  to  excite  no  attention.  Many  bloody  en- 
counters took  place  of  which  no  record  has  been  preserved, 
and  which  at  the  time  were  regarded  as  very  proper  set- 
tlements of  difficulties  between  the  parties. 

A  few  incidents  as  illustrative  of  the  customs  of  a  min- 
ing camp  will  not  be  out  of  place  in  this  immediate  con- 
nection. On  one  occasion  during  the  winter  a  quarrel 
sprung  up  between  George  Ives  and  George  Carrhart  in 
the  main  street.  After  a  long  word}'^  war  interlarded  with 
much  profanity  and  various  opprobrious  epithets,  Ives  ran 
into  a  near  saloon  for  his  pistol,  exclaiming,  "  I  will  shoot 


134   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

you."  Carrhart  followed  him  and  both  reappeared  at  the 
door  of  the  saloon  a  moment  thereafter,  each  armed  with 
a  revolver.  Facing  each  other  upon  the  instant,  both  par- 
ties raised  their  pistols  and  fired  without  effect.  After  a 
second  fire  with  no  better  effect,  both  parties  walked 
rapidly  backwards  till  they  were  widely  separated,  at  the 
same  time  firing  upon  each  other.  Ives  having  emptied 
his  revolver,  stood  perfectly  still  while  Carrhart  took  de- 
liberate aim  and  shot  him  in  the  groin,  the  ball  passing 
through  his  body,  inflicting  a  severe  wound.  Soon  after- 
wards they  reconciled  their  difficulties,  and  Ives  lived  with 
Carrhart  on  his  ranche  the  remainder  of  the  winter. 

Many  of  the  early  emigrants  arrived  at  Bannack  so  late 
in  the  fall  that  they  could  provide  themselves  with  no  bet- 
ter shelter  from  the  weather  during  the  winter  than  was 
afforded  by  their  wagons.  Of  this  number  were  Dr.  Bid- 
die  and  his  wife,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Short,  and  their  hired  man 
from  Minnesota.  While  seated  around  their  camp  fire 
one  dismal  afternoon,  engaged  in  conversation  with  Mr. 
J.  i\I.  Castner,  a  bullet  whizzed  so  near  the  ear  of  Castner 
that  he  felt  its  sting  for  several  days.  Castner  ascertained 
that  it  was  fired  by  one  Cy.  Skinner,  a  rough,  who  excused 
himself  with  the  plea  that  he  thought  they  were  Indians, 
and  by  way  of  amends  invited  Dr.  Biddle  and  Castner  to 
drink  with  him.     Castner  had  the  good  taste  to  decline. 

The  very  composition  of  the  society  of  Bannack  at  the 
time  was  such  as  to  excite  suspicion  in  all  minds.  Outside 
of  their  immediate  acquaintances,  men  knew  not  whom  to 
trust.  They  were  in  the  midst  of  a  people  which  had  come 
from  all  parts  of  this  country  and  from  many  of  the  na- 
tions of  the  Old  World.  Laws  which  could  not  be 
executed  were  no  better  than  none.  A  people,  however  dis- 
posed to  the  })reservation  of  order  and  punishment  of 
crimes,  was  powerless  for  either  so  long  as  every  man  dis- 
trusted his  neighbor.     The  robbers,  united  by  a  bond  of 


BANNACK  IN  1862  135 

sympatlietic  atrocity,  assumed  the  riglit  to  control  the  af- 
fairs of  tlie  camp  by  the  bloody  code.  No  one  was  safe. 
The  miner  fortunate  enough  to  accumulate  a  few  thou- 
sands, the  merchant  whose  business  gave  evidence  of  suc- 
cess, the  saloon-keeper  whose  patronage  was  supposed  to 
be  productive,  were  all  marked  as  victims  by  these  lawless 
adventurers.  If  one  of  them  needed  clothing,  ammunition, 
or  food,  he  obtained  it  on  a  credit  which  no  one  dared  re- 
fuse, and  settled  it  by  threatening  to  shoot  the  person  bold 
enough  to  ask  for  payment.  Such  a  condition  of  society, 
as  all  foresaw,  must  sooner  or  later  terminate  in  disaster 
to  the  lovers  of  law  and  order  or  to  the  villains  who  depre- 
dated upon  them.  Which  were  the  stronger?  The  roughs 
knew  their  power,  but  their  antagonists,  separately  hedged 
about  by  suspicion  as  indiscriminate  as  it  was  inflexible, 
knew  not  how  to  establish  confidence  in  each  other  upon 
which  to  base  an  effective  opposition.  Meantime  the  car- 
nival of  crime  was  progressing.  Scarcely  a  day  passed 
unsignalled  by  outrage  or  murder.  The  numerous  tenants 
of  the  little  grave-yard  had  all  died  by  violence.  People 
walked  the  streets  in  fear. 

This  suspense  was  at  last  broken  by  a  murder  of  un- 
provoked, heartless  atrocity,  which  the  people  felt  it  would 
be  more  criminal  in  them  to  overlook  than  it  was  in  the 
perpetrators  to  commit.  In  January,  1863,  that  noto- 
rious scoundrel,  Charley  Reeves,  bought  a  squaw  from  the 
Sheep  Eater  tribe  of  Bannack.  She  soon  fled  from  him 
to  her  friends  to  escape  his  abuse.  The  tepee  was  located 
on  an  elevation  south  of  that  portion  of  the  town  known 
as  "  Yankee  Flat,"  a  few  rods  in  rear  of  the  street. 
Reeves  went  after  her.  Finding  her  deaf  to  persuasion, 
he  employed  violence  to  force  her  return  to  his  camp.  An 
old  chief  interfered  and  thrust  Reeves  unceremoniously 
from  the  tepee.  Burning  with  resentment,  Reeves  and 
Moore  fired  into  the  tepee  the  next  evening,  wounding  one 


136  VIGILANTE  DAYS  AXD  WAYS 

of  the  Indians.  They  tlicn  returned  to  town,  where  they 
were  joined  by  William  Mitchell,  with  whom  they  counter- 
marched, each  firing  into  the  tepee,  and  this  time  killing  the 
old  chief,  a  lame  Indian,  a  papoose,  and  a  Frenchman  by 
the  name  of  Gazette,  who  had  come  to  the  tepee  to  learn 
the  cause  of  the  first  shot.  Two  other  persons  who  had 
been  influenced  by  similar  curiosity  were  badly  wounded. 
VViicn  the  murderers  were  afterwards  told  that  they  had 
killed  white  men,  Moore  with  a  profusion  of  profane  appel- 
lations said  "  they  had  no  business  there." 


CHAPTER  XVI 
MOORE  AND  REEVES 

ALAR]\IED  at  the  indignation  which  this  brutal  deed 
had  enkindled  in  the  community,  Moore  and  Reeves, 
at  a  late  hour  the  same  night,  fled  on  foot  in  the  direction 
of  Rattlesnake.  They  were  preceded  by  Plummer,  who  it 
was  supposed  had  gone  to  provide  means  for  their  protec- 
tion. He,  however,  afterwards  asserted  that  he  left 
through  fear  that  in  the  momentary  excitement  the  peo- 
ple would  hang  him  for  shooting  Cleveland. 

A  mass  meeting  of  the  citizens  was  held  the  next  morn- 
ing, and  a  cordon  of  guards  appointed  to  prevent  the  es- 
cape of  the  ruffians.  When  it  was  discovered  that  they  had 
gone,  on  a  call  for  volunteers  to  pursue  them,  Messrs. 
Lear,  Higgins,  Rockwell,  and  Davenport  immediately  fol- 
lowed on  their  track.  The  weather  was  intensely  cold. 
The  route  of  the  pursuers  lay  over  a  lofty  mountain  range 
covered  with  snow  to  a  great  depth.  After  riding  as 
rapidly  as  possible,  they  came  up  with  the  fugitives  at  a 
distance  of  twelve  miles  from  town.  They  had  taken  refuge 
in  a  dense  thicket  of  willows  on  the  bank  of  the  Rattle- 
snake. Being  challenged  to  surrender,  they  peremptorily 
refused.  Pointing  their  pistols  with  well-directed  aim  at 
the  approaching  party,  and  interlarding  their  discourse 
with  a  flood  of  oaths,  they  ordered  them  to  advance  no 
farther  on  peril  of  their  lives.  The  advantage  was  on  the 
side  of  the  robbers,  and  they  could  easily  have  shot  down 
every  one  of  their  pursuers.  A  parley  ensued.  The  posi- 
tion of  both  parties  was  fully  discussed.     The  conviction 

137 


138  VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

that  it  was  equally  impossible  for  the  pursuers  to  effect  a 
capture,  and  for  the  ruffians  to  escape  such  a  pursuit  as 
would  be  made  if  they  did  not  return,  induced  the  latter 
to  agree  to  a  surrender,  upon  the  express  condition  that 
they  should  be  tried  l)y  a  jury.  The  pursuing  party  gave 
a  ready  assent  to  this  arrangement,  and  the  fugitives  re- 
turned in  their  custody  to  town. 

Pluninier  was  put  upon  his  trial  immediately.  While 
that  was  progressing  a  messenger  was  sent  to  Godfrey's 
Canon,  ten  miles  distant,  to  summon  Mr.  Godfrey  and  the 
writer,  who,  with  others,  were  erecting  a  saw-mill  there. 
Before  our  arrival  at  midnight,  Plummer  was  acquitted,  no 
doubt  being  entertained,  on  presentation  of  the  evidence, 
that  he  had  killed  Cleveland  in  self-defence.  Several  wit- 
nesses testified  that  they  had  on  various  occasions  heard 
Cleveland  threaten  to  shoot  Plummer  on  sight. 

At  a  late  hour  the  people  separated  with  the  purpose  of 
assembling  for  the  trial  of  Moore,  Reeves,  and  Mitchell 
early  the  next  morning.  Day  broke  clear  and  cold.  All 
work  was  suspended  in  the  gulch,  stores  and  hotels  were 
abandoned,  and  the  entire  population,  numbering  at  least 
four  hundred  persons,  assembled  in  and  about  the  large 
log  building  which  had  been  designated  as  the  place  of 
trial.  Kvery  man  was  armed,  some  with  rifles  and  shot- 
guns, others  with  pistols  and  knives.  The  friends  of  the 
prisoners  gave  free  utterance  to  threats,  which  they  ac- 
companied with  nmch  profane  assumption  of  superior 
power  and  many  defiant  demonstrations.  Pistols  were 
flourished  and  discharged,  oaths  and  epithets  freely  be- 
stowed upon  the  citizens,  and  whatever  vehemence  of  ges- 
ture and  expression  could  do  to  intimidate  the  people,  was 
adopted.  Amid  all  this  bluster  it  was  apparent  from  the 
first  that  the  current  of  popular  opinion  set  strongly 
against  the  prisoners.  There  was  an  air  of  quiet  deter- 
mination manifested  in  every  movement  preparatory  for 


MOORE  AND  REEVES  139 

the  trial.  The  citizens  were  ready  for  an  outbreak,  and 
the  least  indication  in  that  direction  would  have  been  the 
signal  for  a  bloody  and  decisive  battle.  It  is  not  improb- 
able that  an  attempt  at  rescue  was  prevented  by  the  pres- 
ence of  the  overpowering  force  of  armed  and  indignant 
citizens. 

The  efforts  of  the  roughs  to  suppress  the  trial  only  in- 
creased the  indignation  of  the  people,  and  after  electing  a 
temporary  chairman,  a  motion  was  made  that  the  accused 
be  tried  by  a  miners'  court.  This  form  of  tribunal  grew 
out  of  the  necessities  of  mining  life  in  the  mountains.  It 
originated  in  the  early  days  of  California,  when  the  coun- 
try was  destitute  of  courts  and  law,  and  still  exists  in  in- 
choate mining  communities  as  a  witness  to  the  fairness  and 
honesty  of  American  character.  It  is  now  the  general  cus- 
tom among  the  property  holders  of  a  mining  camp,  as  the 
first  step  towards  organization,  to  elect  a  president  or 
judge,  who  is  to  act  as  the  judicial  officer  of  the  district. 
He  has  both  civil  and  criminal  jurisdiction.  All  questions 
affecting  the  rights  of  property,  and  all  infractions  of  the 
peace,  are  tried  before  him.  When  complaint  is  made  to 
him,  it  is  his  duty  to  appoint  the  time  and  place  of  trial 
in  written  notices  which  contain  a  brjef  statement  of  the 
matter  in  controversy,  and  are  posted  in  conspicuous 
places  throughout  the  camp.  The  miners  assemble  in  force 
to  attend  the  trial.  The  witnesses  are  examined,  either  by 
attorneys  or  by  the  parties  interested,  and  when  the  evi- 
dence is  closed  the  judge  states  the  question  at  issue,  de- 
siring all  in  favor  of  the  plaintiff  to  separate  from  the 
crowd  in  attendance  until  they  can  be  counted,  or  to  sig- 
nify by  a  vote  of  "  aye  "  their  approval  of  his  claim.  The 
same  forms  are  observed  in  the  decision  of  a  criminal  case. 
The  decision  is  announced  by  the  judge  and  entered  upon 
his  record.  Where  the  punishment  is  death,  the  criminal 
is  generally  allowed  one  hour  to  arrange  his  business  and 


140  VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

prepare  for  death ;  when  it  is  banishment,  a  few  hours  are 
given  him  to  leave  the  camp.  If  he  neglects  to  comply  with 
tl.e  sentence  he  is  in  danger  of  being  summarily  executed. 
W  here  the  rights  of  parties  are  settled  by  the  court,  and 
the  defeated  party  shows  any  resistance  to  the  decision, 
it  is  the  duty  of  the  court,  if  necessary,  with  the  strong 
hand  to  enforce  it.  The  court  is  composed  of  the  entire 
population.  To  guard  against  mistakes,  the  party  in  de- 
feat, in  all  cases,  has  the  right  to  demand  a  second  vote. 

The  progress  of  a  trial  in  one  of  these  courts  is  en- 
tirely practical.  Often  the  miners  announce  at  the  com- 
mencement that  the  court  must  close  at  a  certain  hour. 
Cross-examinations  are  generally  prohibited,  and  if  lawyers 
are  employed,  it  is  with  the  understanding  that  they  shall 
make  no  long  arguments.  Each  party  and  their  respective 
witnesses  give  their  evidence  in  a  plain,  straightforward 
manner,  and  if  any  of  the  listeners  desire  informa- 
tion on  a  given  point  in  the  testimony  they  request  the 
person  acting  a3  attorney  to  ask  such  questions  as  are 
necessary  to  obtain  it.  The  decisions  of  these  tribunals  are 
seldom  wrong,  and  are  always  enforced  in  good  faith. 
They  have  many  advantages  in  mining  regions  over  courts 
at  law.  None  of  the, tedious  incidents  of  pleading,  adjourn- 
ment, amendment,  demurrer,  etc.,  which  at  law  so  often 
consume  the  time  of  litigants  and  put  them  to  unnecessary 
expense,  belong  to  a  miners'  court. 

The  miners  themselves  have  little  time  to  spare,  and 
hence  these  courts  are  held  on  Sunday  in  all  cases  where 
the  exigency  is  not  immediate.  They  are  held  in  the  open 
air.  Whenever,  from  any  seemingly  unnecessary  cause, 
their  investigations  are  prolonged,  as  by  argumentative 
display,  there  are  always  those  present  who,  by  the  com- 
mand "  Dry  up,"  "  No  spread-eagle  talk,"  force  them  to 
a  close. 

On  one  occasion  at  Blackfoot,  in  INIontana,  a  rough  was 


MOORE  AND  REEVES  141 

on  trial  for  crimes  which  endangered  his  life.  A  motion 
had  been  made  by  his  counsel  that  his  life  be  spared  on 
condition  that  he  would  leave  the  gulch  in  fifteen  minutes, 
—  which  motion  was  carried  by  a  small  majority.  In  an- 
ticipation of  this  favorable  result  his  friends  had  provided 
a  mule  to  expedite  his  departure.  The  presiding  miners' 
judge  announced  to  him  the  condition  of  his  freedom  from 
death.  Fearful  that  a  reconsideration  might  be  demanded, 
the  moment  he  was  released  he  vaulted  into  the  saddle, 
and  looking  around  upon  the  crowd  exclaimed,  "  Fifteen 
minutes !  Gentlemen,  if  this  mule  does  n't  buck,  five  will 
do !  "  and  lashing  the  sides  of  the  animal  he  disappeared 
at  double-quick  amid  the  shouts  and  laughter  of  the  crowd. 

It  was  a  trial  by  this  court  that  the  murderers  dreaded, 
and  to  escape  which  they  made  a  trial  by  jury  the  condi- 
tion of  their  surrender.  When  the  motion  was  made  to 
substitute  the  miners'  court  it  fell  into  their  midst  like  a 
thunderbolt.  They  regarded  a  trial  by  the  mass  as  cer- 
tain of  conviction  as  a  trial  by  jury  would  be  of  acquittal, 
not  because  the  latter  would  be  any  less  likely  than  the  for- 
mer to  perceive  their  guilt,  but  because  fear  of  personal 
consequences  would  prevent  them  from  declaring  it.  Men 
whose  identity  was  lost  in  a  crowd  would  do  that  which,  if 
they  were  known,  would  mark  them  as  victims  for  future 
assassination.  The  friends  of  the  prisoners  showed  the 
estimation  in  which  they  regarded  this  consideration  when 
they  openly  threatened  with  death  every  individual  who 
participated  in  the  trial.  They  anticipated  that,  as  none 
would  dare  in  defiance  of  this  threat  to  act  upon  a  jury,  all 
proceedings  would  be  suppressed,  thus  renewing  the  li- 
cense for  their  continued  depredations. 

The  statement  of  the  motion  by  the  chairman  was  the 
signal  for  a  violent  commotion  among  the  roughs.  One 
long  howl  of  profanity,  mingled  with  the  most  diabolical 
threats  and  repeated  discharge  of  pistols,  filled  the  room. 


142   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

Many  shots  were  turned  from  their  deadly  aim  by  timely 
hands  and  discharged  into  the  ceiling.  Knives  were  drawn 
and  flourished  in  the  faces  of  prominent  citizens,  accom- 
panied with  threats  of  death  in  case  the  motion  prevailed. 
The  scene  was  fearful  in  the  extreme.  The  miners  in  dif- 
ferent parts  of  the  crowd  could  be  seen  getting  their  guns 
and  pistols  ready  for  the  collision  which  at  one  stage  of  the 
tumult  it  seemed  impossible  to  avoid.  At  length  the  re- 
peated cries  of  the  chairman  for  order,  and  the  earnest 
voices  of  several  persons  who  were  desirous  of  discussing 
the  proposition,  allayed  the  noise  and  confusion,  so  that 
they  could  be  heard.  The  guilt  of  the  prisoners  was  so 
palpable  that  the  people  deemed  any  sort  of  a  trial  which 
would  not  speedily  terminate  in  their  condemnation  a  farce. 
A  very  large  majority  were  in  favor  of  a  miners'  court, 
because  tiiey  foresaw  that  any  other  form  of  trial  afforded 
opportunity  for  escape.  Three  hours  were  spent  in  de- 
termining the  question.  Many  short,  emphatic  arguments 
were  made.  In  the  meantime  the  disturbance  made  by  the 
roughs  waxed  and  waned  to  suit  the  different  stages  of  the 
discussion.  Shots  at  one  moment  and  shouts  at  another 
betrayed  their  approval  or  disapproval  of  the  sentiments 
of  the  speaker.  I  had  from  the  first  made  myself  offensive 
to  my  own  ininiediate  friends  and  intimates  by  per- 
tinaciously claiming  for  the  prisoners  a  trial  by  jury,  and 
mounting  a  bench  I  embraced  an  early  opportunity  to  give, 
in  a  few  pointed  w(M-ds  addressed  to  the  assembled  miners, 
my  views.  I  reminded  them  of  the  constitutional  provi- 
sion which  secured  to  every  one  accused  of  crime  a  trial 
by  jury.  It  was  a  law  of  the  land,  as  applicable  on  this 
as  on  any  other  occasion.  The  men  were  probably  guilty ; 
if  so,  the  fact  should  be  proved;  if  not,  they  had  the  right 
by  law,  on  proving  it,  to  an  acquittal.  Moreover,  they 
had  surrendered  at  a  time  when  they  could  not  have  been 
captured,  upon  the  express  condition  that  they  should  be 


MOORE  AND  REEVES  143 

tried  by  jury.  I  asked,  "  Shall  we  ignore  the  agreement 
made  with  them  by  our  officers?  "  I  concluded  by  offering 
a  motion  that  they  be  tried  by  a  jury.  It  was  negatived 
by  three  to  one.  Immediately  a  cry  rose  in  the  crowd, 
"  Hang  them  at  once  " ;  this  was  followed  by  other  cries 
of  "  String  'em  up,"  "  To  the  scaffold  with  'em."  Pistols 
were  drawn  and  flourished  more  freely  than  before,  and 
many  personal  collisions,  resulting  in  bloody  noses,  black 
e^'es,  and  raw  heads,  took  place  in  all  parts  of  the  room. 
Another  hour  was  spent  in  discussion,  and  finally  by  a  bare 
majority  it  was  agreed  to  give  the  prisoners  the  benefit  of  a 
trial  by  jury. 

It  is  impossible  to  portray  with  accuracy  of  detail  the 
fearful  effects  of  passion  which  were  exhibited  by  the  as- 
sembly while  this  question  was  being  determined.  On  a 
limited  scale  it  could  not  have  been  unlike  some  of  the 
riotous  gatherings  in  Paris  in  the  days  of  the  first  revolu- 
tion. It  wanted  numbers,  it  wanted  the  magnificent 
surroundings  of  those  scenes,  but  as  an  exhibition  of  the 
passions  of  depraved  men,  Avhen  inflamed  with  anger,  drink, 
and  vengeance,  it  could  not  have  been  greatly  surpassed 
by  them. 

Order  at  length  being  restored,  a  portion  of  the  room 
was  enclosed  with  scantling,  for  the  accommodation  of  the 
Court  and  jury.  J.  F.  Hoyt  was  elected  Judge,  Hank 
Crawford,  sheriff,  and  George  Copley,  prosecutor.  The 
jury  was  next  chosen  by  a  vote  of  the  people.  My  own 
appointment  on  the  jury  was  urged  by  the  roughs,  as  a 
compliment  for  my  efforts  to  obtain  for  them  a  jury  trial. 
I  was  regarded  by  them  as  a  friend,  and  they  hoped  con- 
fidently for  acquittal  through  my  influence. 

At  first  it  was  determined  that  the  examination  of  the 
witnesses  for  both  prosecution  and  defence  should  be  con- 
ducted by  George  Copley,  the  prosecutor,  but  upon  an  ap- 
peal for  justice  in  behalf  of  the  prisoners  it  was  at  length 


144  VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

decided  by  a  small  majority  that  the  accused  should  be  al- 
lowed the  assistance  of  counsel,  with  the  understanding 
that  all  the  questions  of  their  counsel  were  first  to  be  sub- 
mitted to  the  prosecutor.  Hon.  Wni.  C.  Rheem  was  chosen 
to  defend  the  i)risoners,  and  there  were  many  threats  of 
violence  toward  him  for  consenting  to  conduct  the  defence. 
It  was  agreed  that  the  arguments  to  be  made  on  either 
side  should  be  brief,  and  that  the  trials  should  be  urged 
to  their  conclusion  with  all  possible  expedition.  Mr. 
Ilheem's  ability  as  a  lawyer  was  unquestioned, —  which 
fact  furnished  to  tliose  who  objected  to  a  jury  trial  their 
principal  reason  for  opposing  his  employment  as  counsel 
for  the  prisoners.  As  the  extent  of  ^Mitchell's  criminality 
was  uncertain,  he  was  allowed  a  separate  trial.  His  case 
was  first  brought  under  examination.  It  appeared  in  evi- 
dence that  he  had  accompanied  Moore  and  Reeves  on  their 
second  murderous  visit  to  the  tepee,  but  he  was  able  to 
sliow  that  he  had  not  once  fired  his  gun,  and  consequently 
could  not  be  guilty  of  murder.  His  trial  was  soon  termi- 
nated. The  jury  recommended  that  he  should  be  innne- 
diately  banished  from  the  gulch. 

The  guilt  of  Moore  and  Reeves  was  fully  established. 
This  result  was  foreseen  by  tlu  ir  friends ;  and  wjiilc  tlie 
trial  was  in  progress  they  sought  by  threats  and  ferocious 
gesticulations  to  intimidate  the  jury.  Gathering  around 
the  side  of  the  enclosure  occupied  by  the  jury,  they  kept 
up  a  continued  conversation,  the  purport  of  which  was 
that  no  member  of  that  court  or  jury  would  live  a  month 
if  they  dared  to  find  the  prisoners  guilty.  Occasionally, 
their  anger  waxing  hot,  they  would  draw  tiicir  pistols  and 
knives,  and  brandishing  them  in  the  faces  of  the  jurymen, 
utter  filthy  epithets,  and  bid  them  beware  of  their  verdict, 
(^rawford  was  the  object  of  their  especial  hate.  Their 
abusive  assaults  upon  him  and  threats  were  so  frequent 
and   violent   that   at  one  time  he  tendered  his   resignation 


JUDOK    J.   F.   irOYT 

Miners'  Judge  at  trial  of  Moore  and  Reeves 


MOORE  AND  REEVES  145 

and  refused  to  serve,  but  upon  tlie  promise  of  his  friends 
to  stand  by  and  protect  bim  be  retained  bis  position. 
The  case  was  given  to  the  jury  at  about  seven  o'clock  in 
the  evening.  A  friend  of  the  prisoners  in  the  court-room 
nominated  me  as  foreman,  but  upon  my  refusal  to  serve 
under  that  nomination  I  afterwards  received  the  appoint- 
ment by  a  vote  of  my  fellow- jury  men. 

The  jury  were  occupied  in  their  deliberations  until  after 
midnight.  No  doubt  was  entertained,  from  the  first,  of  the 
guilt  of  the  prisoners,  but  the  exciting  question  was 
whether  they  could  afford  to  declare  it.  They  all  felt  that 
to  do  so  would  be  to  announce  their  own  death  sentence. 
They  knew  that  the  friends  of  the  prisoners  fully  intended 
to  have  life  for  life.  They  had  sworn  it.  One  of  the  jur}^- 
men  said  that  the  prisoners  ought  never  to  have  been  tried 
by  a  jury,  but  in  a  miners'  court,  that  he  should  not  be 
governed  in  his  decision  by  the  merits  of  the  case,  but 
that,  as  he  had  a  family  in  the  States  to  whom  his  obliga- 
tions were  greater  than  to  that  community,  he  should  have 
to  vote  for  acquittal.  After  much  conversation  of  this 
sort,  which  only  served  to  intensify  the  fears  of  the  jury- 
men, a  vote  was  taken  which  resulted  as  follows :  not  guilty, 
11;  guilty,  1;  myself,  the  supposed  friend  of  the  roughs, 
being  the  only  one  in  favor  of  the  death  penalty.  It  was 
apparent  that  further  deliberation  would  not  change  this 
decision,  and  the  jury  compromised  by  agreeing  to  a  sen- 
tence of  banishment,  and  a  confiscation  of  the  property  of 
the  prisoners  for  the  benefit  of  those  they  had  wounded. 

The  court  met  the  ensuing  morning,  when  the  verdict, 
under  seal,  was  handed  to  the  judge.  He  opened  and  re- 
turned it  to  the  foreman,  with  a  request  that  he  read  it 
aloud.  An  expression  of  blank  astonishment  sat  upon  the 
face  of  every  person  in  the  room,  which  was  followed  by 
open  demonstrations  of  general  dissatisfaction,  by  all  but 
the    roughs,    who,    accustomed    to    outrages    and    long 


146   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

immunity,  hailed  it  as  a  fresh  concession  to  their  bloody 
and  lawless  authority. 

Mitchell  returned  to  Bannack  after  a  few  days'  absence, 
which  was  seemingly  regarded  as  a  full  expiation  of  his 
sentence.  A  miners'  court  met  soon  after  his  return,  and 
in  view  of  the  fact  that  his  sentence  was  not  enforced,  re- 
voked the  sentence  of  Moore  and  Reeves,  who  again  re- 
joined their  fellow-miscreants.  Thus  the  first  scene  in  the 
drama,  which  had  been  ushered  in  by  such  a  bloody  pro- 
logue, terminated  in  the  broadest  farce. 

The  trial  of  Moore  and  Reeves  was  one  of  the  earliest 
instances  in  the  Territory  where  the  lovers  of  law  and  or- 
der on  one  side,  and  the  criminal  element  on  the  other,  were 
brought  into  open,  public  antagonism.  No  one  knew  at 
that  time  which  of  the  two  was  the  stronger.  The  roughs 
had  full  confidence  in  their  power  to  run  the  affairs  of  the 
Territory  in  their  own  way,  and  while  the  trial  was  pro- 
gressing sought,  by  brandishing  thtir  revolvers  in  the 
court-room,  by  much  loud-mouthed  profanity,  and  by  fre- 
quent interruptions  and  threats  of  vengeance  directed 
against  the  judge  and  jury,  to  intimidate  and  terrify  all 
who  were  concerned  in  conducting  the  proceedings,  and  ar- 
rest them  in  their  purpose.  The  life  of  Judge  Ho3't,  the 
acting  magistrate  of  the  occasion,  was  often  threatened; 
but  he  not  only  manifested  no  fear,  but  was  all  the  more 
active  and  efficient  in  the  discharge  of  the  duties  of  his 
difficult  position.  Being  the  central  figure  in  the  court, 
hia  calmness  and  firmness  inspired  all  the  other  persons 
engaged  in  the  prosecution  with  courage  equal  to  the  oc- 
casion, while  it  daunted  the  roughs  and  probably  prevented 
bloodshed. 

Professor  Thomas  J.  Dimsdalc,  in  his  account  of  this 
trial,  says:  "To  tlu-  delivery  of  this  unfortunate  verdict 
may  be  attributed  the  ascendency  of  the  roughs.  They 
thought  the  people  were  afraid  of  them.     The  pretext  of 


MOORE  AND  REEVES  147 

the  prisoners  tliat  the  Indians  had  killed  some  whites, 
friends  of  theirs,  in  1849,  while  going  to  California,  was 
accepted  by  the  majority  of  the  jurors  as  some  sort  of 
justification:  —  but  the  truth  is,  they  were  afraid  of  their 
lives,  and,  it  must  be  confessed,  not  without  apparent 
reason." 

Mr.  Rheem,  who  defended  the  prisoners,  says :  "  My 
conscience  has  more  than  once  pricked  me  for  interposing 
between  the  rogues  and  the  halter,  but  I  never  believed 
till  the  last  hour  of  their  trial  that  they  would  escape 
hanging." 


CHAPTER  XVII 
CRxVWFORD  AND  PHLEGER 

THE  banishment  of  Mooro  and  Reeves  was  regarded  by 
the  roughs  as  an  encroachment  upon  the  system  they 
had  adopted  for  the  government  of  the  country.  Long 
impunity  liad  fostered  in  them  the  belief  that  the  citizens 
would  not  dare  to  question  their  power  to  do  as  they 
pleased.  They  held  a  meeting,  and  it  was  quietly  agreed 
among  them  that  every  active  participant  in  the  late  trial 
should  be  slain.  The  victims  were  selected,  the  work  de- 
liberately planned,  and  each  man  alloted  his  part  in  its 
performance.  This  wholesale  scheme  of  vengeance  was  to 
be  effected  secretly,  or  by  provoking  those  at  whom  it  was 
aimed  into  sudden  quarrel,  and  shooting  them  in  assumed 
self-defence.  Any  course  more  culpable  would  afford  the 
assassin  small  chance  of  escaping  the  vengeance  of  the 
law-abiding  citizens. 

Plummer  was  the  recognized  chief  of  the  murderous 
band.  To  him  was  assigned  the  task  of  killing  Crawford, 
who,  as  sheriff,  had  acted  a  prominent  part  in  the  trial  of 
the  exiles.  This  task  was  rendered  doubly  acceptable  to 
I'lummer,  because  he  believed  it  would  silence  the  tongue 
of  the  only  man  in  the  country  who  had  any  knowledge  of 
his  guilty  career  in  California.  One  such  person,  in  Cleve- 
land, had  already  been  slain;  but  Plununer  suspected  that 
on  his  deathbed,  Cleveland  had  told  Crawford  everything. 
Crawford  knew  intuitively  of  Plummer's  suspicions,  and 
felt  that  his  life  was  in  danger,  lie  was  careful  never  to 
be  unarmed.     His  business,  as  the  proprietor  of  a  nuat 

148 


I 


CRAWFORD  AND  PHLEGER      149 

111)1  rket,  was  one  of  constant  exposure.  It  rendered  oc- 
casional journeys  to  Deer  l-.odge,  where  lie  purchased  cat- 
tle, necessary,  and  his  trips  to  his  ranche,  several  miles 
from  town,  were  also  frequent.  Outwardly,  Plummer  was 
friendly.  One  of  Crawford's  friends,  Harry  Phleger,  con- 
firmed his  worst  suspicions,  by  telling  him  that  he  had  seen 
Plummer  near  the  market  one  night,  apparently  on  the 
watch  for  him.  He  had  also  noticed  some  suspicious  move- 
ments of  Plummer  and  a  rough,  familiarly  called  "  Old 
Tex,"*  which  seemed  to  be  directed  against  Crawford. 

Plummer  soon  saw  that  Crawford  understood  him,  and 
that  the  only  safe  method  of  executing  his  design  was  to 
provoke  him  into  a  quarrel.  Plummer  was  reputed  to  ex- 
cel any  man  in  the  mountains  in  the  use  of  a  pistol, —  an 
accomplishment  in  which  Crawford  had  no  skill.  Several 
little  incidents  growing  out  of  Crawford's  efforts  to  reim- 
burse himself  for  the  expenses  he  had  incurred  in  the  care 
and  burial  of  Cleveland,  and  in  the  trial  of  Moore  and 
Reeves,  in  which  Plummer  voluntarily  intermingled,  dis- 
covered the  deadly  purpose  of  the  latter.  On  one  of  these 
occasions,  believing  that  a  quarrel  could  not  be  avoided, 
he  was  unexpectedly  confronted  by  five  or  six  of  Craw- 
ford's friends  with  their  hands  on  their  revolvers.  His 
temper  and  courage  cooled  at  once,  and  he  sent  Crawford 
an  apology,  desiring  to  meet  him  as  a  friend.  They  shook 
hands  a  few  days  after,  and  parted,  seemingly  on  the  best 
of  terms. 

Anxious  as  Crawford  was  to  be  at  peace,  he  was  not  de- 
ceived by  this  offer  of  friendship.  It  was  but  a  new  move 
in  the  deadly  game  which  Plummer  was  playing  for  his 

*The  "  Old  Tex  "  mentioned  in  this  part  of  the  history  must  not 
be  confounded  with  Boone  Helm's  brother,  who  is  mentioned  under 
the  same  cognomen  in  its  earlier  pages.  "  Old  Tex  "  was  a  common 
fiohriquet  in  the  mountains  for  noted  men  Avho  had  spent  a  portion 
of  their  lives  in  Texas.  Almost  every  Territory  has  its  respective 
"  Buffalo  Bill,"  "  Whiskey  Bill,"  "  Bed  Rock  Joe,"  "Sour  Dough  Tom." 
and  "  Old  Tex." 


1.50   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

life,  and  he  knew  it.  A  few  days  afterwards,  while  con- 
versing in  a  saloon,  a  rough-looking  individual  asked  him, 
in  an  impudent  manner,  what  he  was  talking  about. 

"  None  of  your  business,"  replied  Crawford. 

"  I  dare  you,"  replied  the  man,  with  an  insulting  epithet, 
"  to  fight  me  with  pistols." 

Looking  around,  Crawford  discovered  Plummer  among 
the  listeners  standing  near,  and  comprehended  the  situa- 
tion in  an  instant. 

"  You  have  the  odds  of  nie  with  a  pistol,"  said  he. 
"Why  should  I  fight  you?" 

"  Well,  then,"  said  the  man,  in  a  furious  passion,  "  try 
it  with  your  fists.  That  will  tell  which  is  the  best 
man." 

Discovering  that  the  man  had  no  belt,  Crawford  un- 
buckled his  own,  and  laid  his  pistol  on  the  bar.  Following 
his  challenger  into  a  dark  corner  of  the  room,  he  slapped 
him  in  the  face.  The  man  instantly  drew  from  his  coat  a 
revolver,  but  before  he  could  aim  it,  Crawford  seized  him 
by  the  throat  and  disarmed  him.  At  this  moment,  Plum- 
mer joined  the  man  in  the  attack  on  Crawford,  and  the 
two  wrested  the  pistol  from  him,  and,  but  for  the  timely 
interference  of  Harry  Phlegcr,  who  came  to  Crawford's 
assistance  and  recovered  possession  of  the  pistol,  Crawford 
would  probably  have  been  shot.  Crawford  and  Phlegcr 
then  left  the  saloon.  It  did  not  surprise  Crawford,  when 
told  afterwards  by  the  saloon-keeper,  that  the  design  was 
to  entrap  him  into  an  outdoor  fight  with  pistols,  when 
Plummer  was  ready,  with  his  friends,  to  shoot  him  as  soon 
as  the  battle  connnenced. 

This  assault  did  not  disturb  Plummer's  affected  friend- 
ship for  Crawford.  Learning  a  few  days  afterwards  that 
the  latter  was  going  to  Deer  Lodge  for  cattle,  Plummer 
on  the  first  opportunity  told  him  that  he  should  start  for 
Fort  Bonton  the  next  morning.  Crawford  knew  that  this 
was  ofVirt'd  as  an  explanation  in  advance  for  his  absence. 


CRAWFORD  xVND  PHLEGER      151 

und  to  throw  him  off  his  guard  in  the  trip  he  contemplated 
making  after  cattle.     He  replied  at  once, 

"  Wait  a  day  or  two  and  I  '11  accompany  you  part 
way." 

"  No,"  said  riunmier,  "  my  business  is  urgent."  Plum- 
mer  left  the  next  morning,  accompanied  by  George  Carr- 
hart.  Crawford  found  it  convenient  to  be  detained  by 
private  business,  and  sent  his  butcher  in  his  stead,  who  met 
Plummer  at  the  crossing  of  Big  Hole  River,  and  that 
worthy,  upon  being  informed  that  Crawford  was  not  go- 
ing to  Deer  Lodge,  returned  to  Bannack.  Crawford  was 
afterwards  told  that  Plummer  had  made  three  efforts  at 
different  times  to  waylay  and  murder  him  on  the  road  to 
Deer  Lodge. 

Among  other  devices  employed,  Plummer  sought  through 
his  associates  to  accomplish  the  death  of  Crawford.  He 
sent  a  notorious  rough  known  as  Bill  Hunter,  to  engage 
him  in  a  quarrel  and  shoot  him.  Hunter,  meeting  Craw- 
ford, told  him  he  had  something  against  him. 

"  If  you  want  anything  of  me,"  said  Crawford,  with 
the  emphasis  of  his  hand  upon  his  pistol,  "  you  can  get  it 
right  straight  along." 

Seeing  that  he  would  probably  be  killed  before  he  could 
draw  his  pistol,  or,  in  the  sententious  phrase  of  the  coun- 
try, that  he  could  not  "  get  the  drop  on  him,"  Hunter  left, 
discomfited  b}'  Crawford's  bravery. 

The  next  Sunday  while  Crawford  and  George  Perkins 
were  in  conversation,  in  one  of  the  saloons,  Plummer  came 
in,  seemingly  in  great  anger. 

"  George,"  said  he,  addressing  Perkins,  "  there  's  a  lit- 
tle matter  between  you  and  Crawford  in  which  I  am  con- 
cerned, that 's  got  to  be  settled." 

"  Well,  I  can't  imagine  what  it  can  be,"  Crawford 
laughingly  replied.  '*  I  'm  not  aware  of  having  said  or 
done  an3'thing  concerning  you,  that  should  excite  3^our 
anger  or  call  for  a  settlement," 


152   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

"  Oh,  you  need  n't  hiugli,"  responded  Plummer  with  an 
oath.  "  It 's  got  to  be  settled."  Turning  to  Per- 
kins he  continued,  "  You  and  Crawford  have  been  telling 
around  through  the  camp,  that  I  was  trying  to  court  the 
squaw  Catherine."  Then  applying  to  Perkins  a  disgrace- 
ful epithet,  he  said,  "  You  are  a  coward.  I  can  whip  you 
and  Hunk  Crawford  both,  and  if  you  are  any  tiling  of  a 
man,  you  will  just  step  out  of  doors  and  fight  me." 

"  I  am,  as  you  say,"  said  Perkins,  "  a  coward,  and  no 
fighting  man  when  I  've  got  nothing  to  fight  for.  I  would 
not  go  out  of  doors  to  fight  with  anybody." 

"Crawford  won't  admit  that,"  said  Plummer,  "and  if 
you  refuse  the  challenge,  I  ask  the  same  satisfaction  of 
him.     Let  him  go  out  with  me  if  he  dares." 

"  Plummer,"  replied  Crawford,  "  I  neither  know  what 
cause  there  is  for  fighting  you,  nor  why  I  should  fear  to 
go  out  of  doors  on  your  challenge.  I  do  not  believe  that 
one  man  was  made  to  scare  another." 

"  Come  on,  then,"  said  Plummer,  passing  into  the  street, 
closely  followed  by  Crawford.  When  they  had  walked  a 
few  steps, 

"  Now  pull  your  pistol,"  said  Plummer. 

Crawford  was  standing  close  beside  Plummer. 

"  I  '11  pull  no  pistol,"  he  replied.  "  I  never  pulled  a  pi- 
tol  on  a  man  yet,  and  you  '11  not  be  the  first." 

"  Pull  your  pistol,"  persisted  Plummer.  "  You  may 
draw  it  and  cock  it,  and  I  '11  not  go  for  mine  until  you  have 
done  so,  and  uttered  the  word  to  fire." 

"  I  'm  no  pistol  shot,"  said  Crawford,  "  and  you  know 
it, —  and  you  would  n't  make  me  a  proposition  of  this  kiml 
If  you  hud  n't  tin-  advantage." 

"  Pull  your  pistol,"  retorted  Plummer,  with  an  oath, 
"  and  fight  me  like  a  man,  or  I  '11  give  you  but  two  hours  to 
live,  and  then  I  '11  shoot  you  down  like  a  dog." 

"  If  that  's   vour  game.  Plummer,"  said  Crawford  lav- 


CRAWFORD  AND  PPILEGER      153 

ing  his  hand  on  his  shoulder,  and  looking  him  steadily  In 
the  eye,  "  the  quicker  you  do  it,  the  worse  for  you.  I  '11 
present  you  a  fair  target." 

Turning  upon  his  heel  Crawford  walked  deliberately 
away,  well  knowing  that  fear  of  consequences  would  pre- 
vent Plunnner  from  firing  at  him,  without  some  plausible 
excuse.  This  conversation  occurred  at  a  late  hour  in  the 
afternoon.  Harrj'  Phleger  came  into  town  early  in  the 
evening.  Crawford  sent  a  message  to  him,  requesting  him 
to  come  at  once  to  Peabody's  saloon.  As  he  entered, 
Oawford  told  him  that  Plummer  had  given  him  two  hours 
to  live,  and  the  time  had  nearly  expired. 

"  I  expect,"  said  Crawford,  "  he  will  keep  his  word." 

"  If  he  attempts  it,"  replied  Phleger,  "  we  will  try  and 
give  him  as  good  as  he  sends.  It 's  clever  at  any  rate  to 
inform  one  of  his  intentions.  He  will  expect  you  to  be 
prepared?' 

In  a  few  minutes  five  or  six  men,  armed  with  revolvers, 
entered  the  saloon,  followed  by  Plummer.  He  had  re- 
mained long  enough  outside  to  deposit  a  double-barrelled 
gun  over  the  door.  "  Deaf  Dick,"  who  accompanied  the 
crowd,  was  unarmed. 

"  Come  on,  boys,"  said  Phleger,  "  let 's  take  a  drink." 

All  stepped  back  in  refusal  of  the  Invitation. 

"  Well,  Dick,"  said  Crawford,  addressing  him  in  a  key 
that  lie  could  hear,  "  you  '11  drink  anyhow." 

"  Not  I,"  said  Dick  with  an  oath.  "  I  drink  with  no 
coward  such  as  you  have  proved  yourself  to  be  by  refus- 
ing to  fight  Plummer." 

"  You  're  the  wrong  man  to  brand  me  as  a  coward,  at 
any  rate,"  said  Crawford,  advancing  toward  him  as  if  with 
the  intention  of  striking. 

Plummer  at  once  stepped  up  and  handed  Dick  his  re- 
volver, and  the  crowd  gathered  around  him  and  Crawford. 
Phleger  drew  his  pistol,  and  Crawford  said  to  him, 


154  VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

"  Hurry,  I  suppose  these  men  have  come  to  kill  me. 
You  are  my  only  friend,  and  I  '11  make  you  a  present  of 
my  six-shoot<?r.     I  suppose  I  've  got  to  die." 

"Who  will  kill  you?"  asked  Phleger. 

"  Plummer,  I  suppose.    He  threatened  it,"  was  the  reply. 

"  Not  a  man  here  dare  shoot  you,"  said  Phleger,  at  the 
same  time  looking  around  upon  the  crowd,  and  character- 
izing it  by  a  degrading  epithet. 

Plunnner  at  this  jumped  forward,  and  seizing  Phlcger's 
revolver,  tried  to  wrest  it  from  him.  In  the  grapple  Plum- 
mer was  thrown,  when  Phleger  drawing  another  pistol 
from  his  belt,  presented  both  ready  cocked  to  the  crowd, 
which  was  now  pressing  threateningly  towards  him,  and 
calling  to  Crawford,  said, 

"  Come  on,  Hank,  let 's  get  out  of  this,"  and  both 
backed  out  into  the  street  facing  their  assailants,  who  did 
not  follow  them. 

Phleger  and  Crawford  started  for  the  lodgings  of  the 
latter,  passing  on  the  way  the  meat  market,  where  they 
were  joined  by  Johnny  Shepard  and  another  man,  who, 
taking  all  the  arms  they  could  find,  went  with  them.  As 
soon  as  they  arrived  at  the  room,  Crawford,  completely  un- 
nerved, lay  down  and  cried  himself  to  sleep.  Phleger  was 
made  of  sterner  stuff,  and  watched  all  night.  Some  one 
rapped  at  the  door  at  midnight,  but  was  told  by  Phleger 
that  if  he  attempted  to  enter,  he  would  shoot  him  '*  on 
sight." 

On  the  morning  of  the  second  day  after  this  occurrence, 
riiiiimur  came  up  the  street,  gun  in  hand,  peeping  by  the 
way  into  the  saloons  and  market  for  Crawford.  Not  find- 
ing him,  he  assumed  a  watchful  attitude,  and  stood  loan- 
ing on  his  gun,  twenty  steps  distant  from  the  door  of  the 
market.  Crawford  not  appearing,  after  half  an  hour  he 
walked  on  with  '*  Deaf  Dick  "  to  Phlcger's  room.  Phleger 
met  him  at  the  door,  aiul  invited  him  in. 


CRAWFORD  AND  PHLEGER      155 

"  No,"  said  Plunimcr,  "  jou  'vc  set  yourself  up  for  a 
ganic-cock,  and  to  let  you  know  that  I  hold  you  in  no 
fear,  I  've  come  up  to  give  you  a  chance  to  display  your 
skill.  Get  your  gun  and  we  '11  try  an  exchange  of  shots 
at  ten  paces."  This  invitation  was  interlarded  with  the 
usual  complement  of  oaths  and  epithets.  Harry  felt  the 
abuse  of  Plununer  keenly,  but  knew  too  well  his  skill  with 
fire-arms  to  consent  to  the  murderous  proposition. 

"  No,  thank  you,  Plummer,"  he  replied,  laughing,  "  I  'm 
not  looking  around  for  any  one  to  shoot  this  morning,  and 
have  no  special  regard  for  any  one  who  is.  If  you  are, 
and  3'ou  really  want  to  shoot,  you  'd  better  turn  loose." 

It  so  happened  that  at  the  time  of  this  conversation, 
Crawford,  armed  for  the  purpose,  was  searching  for  Plum- 
mer, with  the  intention  of  shooting  him.  As  is  usual  on  all 
such  occasions,  friends  interfered  to  prevent  a  collision, 
but  Crawford,  believing  that  either  he  or  Plummer  must 
die  on  their  next  meeting,  gave  no  heed  to  their  advice. 
When  this  was  understood  by  Plummer's  friends,  they  re- 
sorted to  various  devices  to  throw  Crawford  off  his  guard. 
At  one  time  they  told  him  that  Plummer  was  about  to  leave 
town.  This  only  made  him  the  more  watchful.  Plummer, 
meantime,  was  careful  to  have  one  or  more  friends  con- 
stantly in  his  company,  so  that  Crawford  could  not  fire  at 
him  without  endangering  the  lives  of  others.  This  situa- 
tion of  affairs  between  the  two  men  continued  for  several 
days.  The  entire  community  was  prepared  to  hear  of  the 
death  of  one  or  both  at  any  moment,  and  each  was  now  en- 
couraged in  his  purpose  by  his  friends.  Plummer  was 
frequently  seen  near  the  butcher  shop,  but  never  alone. 
He  finally  disappeared,  and  sent  a  friend  to  Crawford  with 
the  proposition  that  they  should  drop  all  hostile  intentions 
and  meet  as  strangers. 

"Tell  Plummer,"  said  Crawford,  "that  the  trick  is 
too   shallow.      I   know   him.      His  word   of  honor,  so   re- 


15G   VIGILANTE  DxVYS  AND  WAYS  I 

pcatedly  broken,  I  regard  no  more  than  the  wind.     He  or 
I  must  die  or  leave  the  camp." 

Soon  after  this,  one  of  Crawford's  friends  discovered 
that  Phininier  and  his  friends  liad  hiid  a  phin  to  shoot 
him  in  his  own  doorway,  under  cover  of  a  house  directly 
opposite,  and  told  Crawford  of  it.  While  Crawford  was 
on  the  lookout,  a  woman  living  in  a  cabin  in  the  rear  of 
the  Bannack  Restaurant  called  to  him  to  come  and  get  a 
cup  of  coffee.  While  he  was  drinking  it,  Frank  Ray  ap- 
proached him,  and  telling  him  that  IMunnner  was  searching 
for  him,  placed  in  his  hands  Buz  Cavan's  double-barrelled 
rifle.  At  this  moment,  Plunmier,  armed  with  a  similar 
weapon,  came  up  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  street,  and 
stopping  in  front  of  the  door,  with  one  foot  elevated  and 
resting  upon  a  spoke  of  a  wagon-wheel,  placed  his  rifle 
across  his  knee,  his  right  fore-arm  lying  horizontally  along 
the  stock,  which  he  grasped  as  if  prepared  to  fire  at  a  mo- 
ment's notice.  Crawford's  friends  urged  him  to  improve 
that  opportunity  to  shoot  him.  He  went  out  quickly,  and 
resting  the  rifle  across  a  log  projecting  from  the  corner 
of  the  cabin,  shot  Phnnmer  in  the  right  arm,  the  ball  en- 
tering at  the  elbow,  and  lodging  in  the  wrist.  _ 

"  Fire  away,  you  cowardly  ruffian,"  shouted  Plunnner,    I 
straightening  himself  and  facing  Crawford. 

Crawford  fired  a  second  time,  but  the  ball  missed;  and 
Plunnner  walked  down  to  his  cabin,  carrying  his  gun,  and 
followed  I)y  several  of  his  friends. 

Crawford  knew  that  Plummer's  friends  would  kill  him, 
unless  he  outwitted  them  on  his  escape  from  the  country. 
He  left  for  Fort  Benton  immediately,  travelling  the  entire 
distance  of  two  hundred  and  eighty  miles  by  a  trail  that 
only  those  who  had  passed  over  it  could  trace.  He  was 
followed  l)v  three  roughs,  but  arrived  at  the  Fort  in  ad- 
vance of  them,  where  he  was  protected  by  Mr.  Dawson,  the 
factor  at  the  post.  He  remained  tliere  until  spring,  and 
then  took  passagt'  on   a  Mackinaw  boat  to  the  States. 


CRAWFORD  AND  PHLEGER   157 

Crawford's  friends,  and  the  miners  generally,  who  had 
regarded  this  quarrel  as  a  personal  difficulty  between  him 
and  Plummer,  rejoiced  at  his  escape.  It  had  terminated 
injuriously,  as  they  felt,  to  the  party  who  was  most  in 
fault,  and  they  were  glad  the  result  was  no  worse.  Few 
knew  or  ever  suspected  that  it  had  any  deeper  origin  than 
the  frequent  collisions  incident  to  Crawford's  attendance 
upon  Cleveland,  after  he  was  shot,  and  his  action  as  sheriff 
at  the  trial  of  ^Nloore  and  Reeves.  Had  it  been  understood 
at  this  time  that  the  roughs  had  not  only  decreed  the  death 
of  Crawford,  but  of  every  other  man  who  participated  in 
that  trial,  the  people  would  have  placed  themselves  on  a 
war  footing,  and  organized  themselves  to  resist  the  en- 
croachments of  the  ruffians,  which  finally  left  them  no  other 
alternative.  So  fully  did  they  carry  out  their  avowed  pur- 
poses, that,  Avithin  five  months  after  the  trial,  not  more 
than  seven  of  the  twenty-seven  men  who  participated  in  it 
as  judge,  prosecutor,  sheriff,  witnesses,  and  jurors,  were 
left  alive  in  the  Territory.  Eight  or  nine  are  known  to 
have  been  killed  by  some  of  the  band,  and  others  fled  to 
avoid  a  like  fate. 

Plummer's  wound  was  very  severe.  The  ball  entered  at 
the  elbow.  Passing  down  the  arm,  it  broke  each  bone  in 
two  places.  Dr.  Glick,  the  surgeon  in  attendance  upon 
him,  after  a  careful  examination  of  the  wound,  was 
of  the  opinion  that  amputation  of  the  member  alone  could 
save  his  life.  The  ball  could  not  be  found,  and  the  arm 
sAvcllcd  to  thrice  its  natural  size,  and  the  passage  made 
by  the  ball  was  filled  for  its  entire  length  with  bony 
spiculae. 

Plummer  had  in  a  previous  affray  lost  the  ready  use  of 
his  other  hand,  and  knowing  that  the  loss  of  this  arm  would 
necessarily  deprive  him  of  his  position  of  chief  among  the 
roughs,  and  that  his  life  depended  upon  his  skill  in  draw- 
ing his  revolver, —  as  he  had  numerous  enemies,  who  would 
endeavor  to  kill  him  but  for  the  advantage  which  this  skill 


158  VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

gave  him, —  declared  that  he  might  as  well  die  as  lose  his 
arm.  He  peremptorily  refused  to  consent  to  the  operation, 
but  insisted  that  the  ball  must  be  found  and  removed. 

Dr.  Glick,  who  was  highly  accomplished  in  surgery,  ex- 
plained to  him  the  danger  of  such  an  operation,  but  Plum- 
mer  said  he  would  rather  die  in  the  effort  to  cure  the  arm 
than  live  without  it.  Witli  great  reluctance,  and  little 
faith  in  his  ability  to  save  the  arm,  the  doctor  undertook 
the  thankless  task,  and  made  preparations  to  operate  ac- 
cordingly. When  the  arm  was  bared,  and  the  doctor  was 
about  to  commence,  Old  Tex  and  Bill  Hunter  entered  the 
room,  the  latter  armed  with  a  double-barrelled  shotgun. 

"  I  just  thought,"  said  he  to  the  doctor,  "  that  I  'd  tell 
you  that  if  you  cut  an  artery,  or  Plummer  dies  from  the 
operation  you  are  going  to  perform,  I  'm  going  to  shoot 
the  top  of  your  head  off." 

The  operation  was  successfully  performed,  and  a  large 
amount  of  spicul.T  and  disorganized  tissue  removed, —  but 
the  bullet  could  not  be  found.  For  several  days  the  result 
was  uncertain.  Dr.  Glick  gave  to  the  wound,  which  was 
terribly  inflamed,  his  unremitting  attention.  He  had  in- 
curred the  hatred  of  Phnnmer's  friends  because  of  his 
active  support  of  law  and  order.  They  pretended  to  be- 
lieve that  he  did  not  wish  for  Plummer's  recovery,  and  told 
him  that  they  would  hold  him  responsible  with  his  life,  for 
the  safety  of  his  patient.  What  was  to  be  done?  Escape 
from  the  country  in  the  midst  of  an  inclement  season 
seemed  impossible.  In  order  to  effect  it,  he  must  follow 
Crawford  over  an  unknown  trail  to  Fort  Benton  or  go  to 
Bitter  Root  Valley,  or  run  the  gantlet  of  the  hostile  In- 
dians at  Bear  River  over  a  route  of  four  hundred 
miles  to  Salt  Lake.  Plummer's  wound  was  daily  getting 
worse.  The  doctor,  well  knowing  that  the  ruffians  would 
put  their  threat  into  execution,  prepared  for  his  escape. 
Suspecting  his  intention,  the  friends  of  Plummer  kept  a 


CRAWFORD  AND  PHLEGER      159 

close  watcli  upon  Jiim.  Despite  their  vigilance,  however, 
a  trusty  friend  secured  his  horse,  saddled  and  bridled,  in 
the  bushes  behind  his  cubin  on  the  night  that  the  crisis  in 
the  inflammation  arrived.  The  doctor  instructed  Plum- 
mer's  attendants  to  awaken  him,  in  order  that  he  might 
make  his  escape,  if  the  swelling  did  not  begin  to  abate  by 
midnight,  and  lay  down,  booted  and  spurred,  to  get  a  little 
rest.  But  the  favorable  change  which  took  place,  while  it 
saved  to  Montana  one  of  her  best  citizens  in  Dr.  Glick, 
lengthened  out  for  a  darker  fate  than  that  which  had 
threatened  it,  the  guilty  life  of  Henry  Plummer. 

Dr.  Glick  came  to  Bannack  with  a  party  of  emigrants, 
of  which  he  was  captain,  in  18G2,  The  company  were 
bound  for  Salmon  River,  but  were  arrested  in  their  prog- 
ress by  the  reputed  richness  of  the  Grasshopper  mines. 
Glick  had  lost  a  handsome  property  in  the  early  part  of 
the  war,  and  came  to  the  gold  mines  to  replenish  his  broken 
fortunes.  He  was  accomplished  in  his  profession,  espe- 
cially in  surgery,  and  was  the  only  physician  in  practice 
who  had  the  confidence  of  the  people, —  Dr.  Leavitt,  also 
an  able  practitioner,  being,  at  the  time,  engaged  in 
mining. 

His  services  were  in  almost  daily  demand  by  the  road 
agents,  to  dress  wounds  received  in  broils  among  themselves, 
or  while  engaged  in  the  commission  of  robbei'y.  It  was  im- 
possible, from  his  frequent  contact  with  them,  and  the  cir- 
cumstances with  which  ofttimes  he  found  them  surrounded, 
for  him  to  avoid  a  knowledge  of  their  guilty  enterprises. 
But  he  neither  dared  to  decline  to  serve  them,  nor  to  di- 
vulge their  villainy,  well  knowing  that  in  either  case,  he 
would  fall  a  victim  to  that  summary  vengeance,  so 
promptly  and  fearlessly  exercised  in  the  case  of  Dilling- 
ham. He  foresaw  also,  that  a  time  must  come  when  all 
the  guilty  misdeeds  which  he  had  been  obliged  to  conceal, 
would  be  revealed,  and  that  then  the  lovers  of  law  and  or- 


160  VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

dcr  would  suspect  the  integrity  of  his  motives,  and  possi- 
bly class  him  among  the  men  of  whom  he  justly  stood  so 
nmch  in  fear.  But  there  was  no  remedy.  He  knew  that 
his  actions  were  narrowly  watched,  and  that  a  word  or 
glance  indicating  his  suspicions  would  cost  him  his  life. 
It  was  a  happy  day  for  him  when,  by  the  death  of  Plum- 
mer,  his  lips  were  unsealed. 

The  robbers,  in  other  instances  than  the  one  recorded 
of  his  attendance  upon  Plummer,  were  in  the  habit  of  using 
threats  to  control  the  doctor's  conduct.  On  one  occasion 
in  July,  1863,  Plummer  invited  him  to  accompany  him  on 
a  horseback  excursion  to  his  ranche  on  the  Rattlesnake. 
Finding  no  one  at  the  cabin  on  their  arrival,  Plummer 
asked  the  doctor  to  go  with  him  down  the  creek  and  pick 
some  berries.  They  soon  came  upon  a  large  clump  of  birch 
bushes.  Pulling  them  aside,  Phnmner  disclosed  an  open 
space  cut  within  the  clump,  in  which  were  seated  several 
men,  seeing  whom  Glick  drew  back,  but  was  told  by  Plum- 
mer to  come  in.  He  entered,  and  found  himself  amid  five 
or  six  men  with  masked  or  blackened  faces,  of  whom  he 
recognized  Moore  and  Billy  Terwiliger.  The  latter  was 
lying  on  a  blanket,  wounded  in  the  leg  by  a  bullet  received 
in  some  affray. 

After  dressing  the  wound,  the  doctor  started  with  Plum- 
mer on  the  return  to  Bainiack.  While  crossing  the  plateau 
between  Rattlesnake  and  Bannack,  Plunnner  suddenly 
wheeled  in  front  of  the  doctor,  and,  cocking  his  pistol, 
thrust  it  into  his  face,  saying, 

"  Now  you  know  all.  These  arc  my  men.  I  'm  their 
chief.  If  you  ever  breathe  a  word  of  what  you  've  seen, 
I  '11  nnirder  you." 

Under  this  kind  of  surveillance,  the  doctor  lived  uiidl 
the  robber  band  was  destroyed.  His  discretion,  only 
equalled  by  his  kindness  of  heart,  saved  both  his  life  from 
destruction  by  the  robbers,  and  his  good  name  from  the 


I 


CRAWFORD  AND  PHLEGER      161 

public  odium  of  the  people.  Montana  has  had  no  worthier 
or  more  useful  citizen. 

Henry  Plummer  was  n  man  of  wonderful  executive  abil- 
ity. He  was  well  educated.  In  stature  he  was  about  five 
feet  ten  inches,  and  in  weight,  one  hundred  and  sixty 
pounds.  His  forehead  was  partially  concealed  by  the  rim 
of  the  hat  which  he  rarely  removed  from  his  head,  and  his 
eyes  were  mild  and  expressive.  In  demeanor  he  was  quiet 
and  modest,  free  from  swagger  and  bluster,  dignified  and 
graceful.  He  was  intelligent  and  brilliant  in  conversation, 
a  good  judge  of  men,  and  his  manners  were  those  of  a  pol- 
ished gentleman.  To  his  enemies  his  magnanimity  was 
more  seeming  than  real.  He  always  proffered  them  the  ad- 
vantage in  drawing  the  pistol,  but  he  knew  that  the  in- 
stance would  be  very  rare,  where,  even  thus  favored,  his 
antagonist  could  anticipate  him  in  its  deadly  use. 

Hon.  Wm.  C.  Rheem,  in  a  letter  to  the  Helena  (Mon- 
tana) Herald,  writes  of  Henry  Plummer  as  follows: 

"  I  remember  Plummer  very  well.  He  was  frequently  in 
my  cabin,  and  I  often  came  in  contact  with  him  while  he 
was  exercising  the  office  of  sheriff.  His  form  and  face  were 
familiar  to  the  first  settlers  in  Bannack.  He  was  about  five 
feet  eleven  inches  in  height,  and  weighed  a  hundred  and  fifty 
pounds.  He  was  straight,  slender,  spare,  agile,  and  what 
Western  men  call  withy.  He  was  a  quiet  man  and  talked 
but  little;  when  he  did  speak,  it  was  always  in  a  low  tone 
and  with  a  good  choice  of  language.  He  never  grew  bois- 
terous, even  in  his  cups,  and  no  impulse  of  anger  or  surprise 
ever  raised  his  voice  above  that  of  wary  monotone.  His 
countenance  was  in  perfect  keeping  with  his  utterance.  Both 
were  under  the  same  vigilant  command.  If  one  was  like 
the  low,  continuous  purr  of  the  crouching  tiger,  the  muscles 
of  the  other  were  as  rigid  as  those  of  the  beast  before  he 
springs.  Affection,  fear,  hate,  grief,  remorse,  or  any  passion 
or  emotion,  found  no  expression  in  his  immovable  face.  No 
color  ever  flushed  his  cheeks.     With  mobile  and  expressive 


162   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AXD  WAYS 

features,  he  would  have  been  handsome  —  all  except  the  fore- 
head ;  this,  with  the  conformation  of  the  skull,  betrayed  the 
murderer,  and  Plummer  knew  it.  The  observer  beheld  a 
well-cut  mouth,  indicating  decision,  firmness,  and  intelligence; 
but  not  a  line  expressive  of  sensuality ;  a  straight  nose  and 
well-shaped  chin,  and  cheeks  rather  narrow  and  fleshless, 
still,  in  their  outlines,  not  unhandsome.  But  one  might  as 
well  have  looked  into  the  eyes  of  the  dead  for  some  token 
of  a  human  soul  as  to  have  sought  it  in  the  light  gray  orbs 
of  Plummer.  Their  cold,  glassy  stare  defied  inquisition.  They 
seemed  to  be  gazing  through  you  at  some  object  beyond,  as 
though  you  were  transparent.  While  other  men  laughed  or 
pitied  or  threatened  with  their  eyes,  his  had  the  same  half- 
vacant  stare,  no  matter  how  moving  the  story  or  tragic  the 
spectacle. 

"  I  have  said  that  Plummer  knew  he  had  a  bad  front:  he 
therefore  kept  it  jealously  covered  with  the  turn-down  rim  of 
his  slouch  hat.  When  not  in  the  mood  or  act  of  slaughter 
or  raj)ine,  his  politeness  was  notable  and  well  timed  in  demon- 
stration. He  understood  the  formulas  of  courtesy,  but  the 
one  of  uncovering  liis  head  he  failed  to  observe." 

An  examination  of  Plumnier's  arm  after  his  death,  dis- 
closed the  fact  that  the  lower  fracture  of  the  radius  never 
united,  but  formed  a  false  joint.  The  bullet  passed  into 
the  marrow  of  tlic  lower  end  of  the  bone,  and  was  stopped 
in  its  progress  by  the  bones  of  the  hand.  From  subse- 
quent use  of  the  hand,  while  Plummer  was  sheriff,  the  bul- 
let became  worn  as  smooth  as  polished  silver. 


ii 


CHAPTER  XVIII 
BROADWATER'S  STRATAGEM 

AFTER  sentence  of  banishment  was  pronounced 
upon  them,  Moore  and  Reeves  went  to  the  mining 
camp  in  Deer  Lodge  Valley,  located  near  the  present  site 
of  Deer  Lodge  City.  Messrs.  Broadwater  and  Pember- 
ton,  two  young  men  who  had  come  into  the  Territory  a  few 
weeks  before,  had  selected  this  spot  as  an  eligible  location 
for  a  town,  and  were  engaged  in  laying  it  out  at  the 
time  the  guilty  exiles  arrived.  They  had  already 
erected  two  cabins,  one  of  which  they  occupied,  the 
other  being  vacant.  It  was  the  middle  of  February, 
and  the  weather  was  intensely  cold.  Moore  and  Reeves 
made  their  camp  in  a  clump  of  willows  upon  the  bank 
of  the  Deer  Lodge  River.  With  no  better  protection 
than  their  blankets  against  the  wintry  blasts  which 
swept  down  the  valley  and  the  frequent  storms  that  gath- 
ered in  the  lofty  ranges  overhanging  it,  and  with  no  food 
except  beef  and  coffee,  these  men  suffered  severely.  Moore 
soon  fell  sick  of  mountain  fever,  and  would  probably  have 
died  had  not  Broadwater  caused  his  removal  to  the  vacant 
cabin,  and  supplied  him  with  food  and  medicines  neces- 
sary to  his  recovery.  Soon  after  he  had  sufficiently  re- 
covered to  leave  his  bed,  a  messenger  from  Bannack 
brought  the  intelligence  that  the  miners,  at  a  recent  meet- 
ing, had  revoked  the  sentence  of  banishment  against  him 
and  Reeves,  and  that  they  were  at  liberty  to  return.  Dur- 
ing his  illness  the  Indians  had  stolen  Moore's  horse. 
Broadwater  placed  one  at  his  disposal  and  Moore  rejoined 
his  comrades  at  Bannack. 

163 


164   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

In  the  following  spring,  Broadwater  engaged  in  the  cat- 
tle business, —  buying  in  Deer  Lodge  and  selling  his  herds 
at  Bannack.  The  proceeds  of  these  sales  often  amounted 
to  thousands  of  dollars  in  gold  dust.  On  one  of  these  oc- 
casions he  was  preparing  to  return  to  Deer  Lodge  with 
six  thousand  dollars  in  gold.  Moore  called  upon  him,  with 
a  request  for  a  few  moments'  confidential  conversation. 

"  Make  a  free  breast  of  an^'thing  you  have  to  connnuni- 
cate,"  said  Broadwater.     "  I  will  listen  and  be  silent." 

"  It 's  for  your  own  safety,  Broad,"  replied  Moore, 
"  and  there  is  not  another  man  in  the  country  for  whom 
I  'd  take  the  risk ;  but  you  were  my  friend  when  I  needed 
friendship :  you  saved  my  life,  gave  me  food  and  shelter 
and  care ;  and  I  can  never  forget  to  be  grateful  —  but  you 
must  pledge  your  honor  not  to  bctra}'  me." 

"Freely,  freely,  Moore;  I  would  lose  my  life  first." 

"  Then,"  said  Moore,  "  I  give  you  friendly  warning 
that  there  is  a  band  of  road  agents  here,  that  know  of  your 
having  received  a  large  quantity  of  gold  dust  during  the 
past  three  days.  They  are  informed  of  the  time  of  your 
intended  departure  for  Deer  Lodge,  and  intend  to  waylay 
and  murder  you  on  the  way,  and  corral  your  gold.  You 
are  *  spotted  '  for  slaughter.  My  advice  to  you  is  to  leave 
town  secretly,  and  to  be  constantly  on  your  guard,  and 
iHider  no  circumstances  let  ony  one,  not  even  your  most 
intimate  friend,  know  when  you  will  leave." 

"  I  intended  going  to-morrrow  morning,"  replied  Broad- 
water, "but  if  matters  are  as  you  tell  me,  I  think  I'll 
start  to-night." 

At  this  Moore  exclaimed,  "  Why,  you  fool !  tlure  you 
go,  shooting  off  your  mouth  to  me  the  first  thing.  Did  n't 
I  caution  you  not  to  tell  any  one?  And  in  less  than  a  min- 
ute you  tell  me  just  what  you  're  going  to  do." 

It  would  be  curious  to  know  by  what  system  of  ethics 
Moore  was  governed  in  this  strange  admonition;  whether 


BROADWATER'S  STRATAGEM    1G5 

it  was  to  impress  upon  Broadwater  the  necessity  of  a 
caution  which  should  withhold  confidence  even  from  the 
person  who  warned  him  of  a  danger,  or  whether  there  was 
a  conflict  between  gratitude  to  Broadwater  and  fidelity  to 
his  confederates.  It  is  not  improbable  that  he  was  bound 
by  strong  obligations  to  communicate  to  his  associates  the 
very  information  which  Broadwater  had  given  him. 

Satisfied  that  Moore  belonged  to  the  gang,  yet  confid- 
ing in  the  truthfulness  of  his  disclosure,  Broadwater 
mounted  his  horse  early  in  the  evening,  and  at  two  o'clock 
the  next  morning  was  at  the  crossing  of  the  Big  Hole 
River.  There  he  intended  to  rest,  but  fearful  that  his 
horse  might  be  stolen  by  some  Fend  d'Oreille  Indians 
camped  near,  he  rode  on,  six  miles,  to  Willow  Creek.  Fas- 
tening the  lariat  firmly  to  his  wrist,  and  relying  upon  the 
sagacity  of  his  horse  to  warn  him  of  the  approach  of  any 
of  his  red  neighbors,  he  lay  down  upon  the  grass,  and  fell 
asleep.  An  hour  before  daylight  he  was  aroused  by  a 
sudden  plunge  and  snort  of  his  horse,  which,  with  braced 
feet,  was  gazing  intently  at  a  patch  of  wild  rye  growing 
near.  He  retained  his  prostrate  position,  and,  with  his 
eyes  riveted  in  the  same  direction,  and  his  faithful  revolver 
grasped  ready  for  use,  quietly  awaited  further  develop- 
ments. At  length  a  slowly  creeping  object  became  dimly 
visible  in  the  morning  twilight.  He  delayed  no  longer,  but 
taking  deliberate  aim,  fired.  Instantly  an  Indian  rose 
above  the  r3'e  stalks,  and  with  a  fearful  yell,  sped  away 
into  darkness.  More  frightened  than  the  redskin,  whom 
he  afterwards  learned  he  had  severely  wounded,  he  mounted 
his  horse  with  the  least  possible  delay,  and  hurried  away 
from  the  dangerous  neighborhood. 

His  route  now  lay  directly  over  the  main  range  of  the 
Rocky  Mountains,  by  a  pass  whose  ascent  and  descent 
are  so  imperceptible,  that  persons  unacquainted  with  its 
peculiarities  can  never  determine  where  the  one  ends,  or 


166  VIGILANTE  DAYS  AXD  WAYS 

the  other  begins.  It  is  covered  with  bunch  grass  for  its 
entire  distance,  and  its  very  summit  is  crowned  with  one 
of  the  finest  cattle  ranges  in  the  mountains.  The  waters 
of  the  creek,  flowing  naturally  along  its  summit  down  its 
eastern  slope  to  the  Big  Hole  River,  are  carried  by  ditches 
and  races  over  its  western  slope,  for  mining  purposes,  into 
the  beautiful  valley  of  the  Deer  Lodge,  thus  contributing 
to  swell  on  the  one  side  the  volume  of  the  Missouri,  and 
on  the  other,  that  of  the  Columbia.  The  broad  savannas 
which  spread  away  on  either  side  of  this  remarkable  pas- 
sage lend  enchantment  to  a  shifting  and  ever-varying  scene 
of  mountain  beauties  not  excelled  upon  the  continent. 

Just  before  daylight,  Broadwater  began  to  descend  the 
declivity  at  whose  foot  flowed  one  of  the  forming  streams 
of  the  Deer  Lodge  River.  Glimpses  of  the  valley  could  be 
obtained  at  every  bend  in  the  tortuous  road.  Day  was  just 
breaking,  and  the  perpetual  snow  on  the  distant  peak  of 
Mount  Powell  shone  dimly  through  the  haze.  He  was  con- 
gratulating himself  that  the  dangers  of  his  trip  were  over, 
and  he  could  complete  it  by  a  leisurely  ride  through  one 
of  the  most  delightful  valle>'s  in  the  world.  These  thoughts 
received  a  sudden  check  when,  turning  an  abrupt  angle  in 
the  road,  he  saw,  seated  by  a  camp  fire,  the  ver}'  persons, 
as  he  then  felt,  against  whom  Moore  had  warned.  One  of 
them,  George  Ives,  was  regarded  as  the  most  daring  ruf- 
fian in  the  mountains ;  the  other,  Johnny  Cooper,  was 
known  to  be  one  of  his  chosen  associates.  They  manifested 
great  surprise  at  his  approach.  The  quick  e^'e  of  Broad- 
water took  in  all  the  advantages  of  the  situation.  He  saw 
their  horses  feeding  upon  the  foothills,  two  or  three  miles 
away,  and  knew  if  he  had  been  expected  so  soon,  they  would 
have  been  saddled  and  ready  for  pursuit.  They  hailed  him 
as  he  passed,  urged  him  to  wait  until  they  could  get  their 
horses,  and  they  would  accompany  him,  telling  him  that 
as  the  road  agents  were  abroad,  it  would  be  safer  for  him 


BROADWATER'S  STRATAGEM    167 

to  do  so.  He  replied  that  he  was  in  a  hurry,  and  as  his 
horse  was  jaded  with  travel,  they  would  soon  overtake  him, 
—  and  rode  slowly  on.  To  allay  suspicion,  he  alighted 
from  his  horse  and  led  him  slowly  up  a  steep  hill,  looking 
back  when  under  way  to  the  top,  and  calling  to  them, 

"  Get  up  your  horses :  you  can  overtake  me  over  the 
hill." 

The  horse,  which  was  greatly  fatigued,  was  favored  by 
this  device.  Broadwater  felt  all  the  peril  of  his  situation, 
and  knew  that  nothing  but  coolness  and  decision  could  save 
him.  He  was  twenty  miles  from  the  second  crossing  of  the 
Deer  Lodge,  where  a  Frenchman  by  the  name  of  David 
Contway  was  living  with  his  Indian  wife,  preparing  to 
take  up  a  ranche.  This  was  the  nearest  place  of  safety. 
Casting  another  glance  at  the  freebooters,  he  saw,  as  he 
passed  over  the  summit  of  the  hill,  that  they  were  making 
active  preparations  to  pursue  him.  There  was  no  time 
to  be  lost.  It  was  to  be  a  race  for  life,  and  his  chances 
for  escape  depended  upon  the  advantage  he  could  win 
during  the  brief  period  his  pursuers  would  require  in  get- 
ting ready  to  start.  As  soon  as  he  was  lost  to  their  sight 
he  remounted  his  horse,  and,  spurring  him  to  his  utmost 
speed,  descended  into  the  broad  open  valley.  His  course 
now  lay  over  a  level  plain  denuded  of  trees,  and  rank  with 
prairie  vegetation.  Every  movement  he  made  within  any 
attainable  distance,  he  knew  would  be  seen  by  the  men  who 
were  on  his  track.  The  clumps  of  willow  which  defined 
the  course  of  the  river  were  too  small  to  afford  even  tem- 
porary shelter.  His  horse,  liable  at  any  moment  to  give 
out,  obeyed  the  urgency  of  the  occasion,  under  whip  and 
spur,  with  great  reluctance.  But  his  rider  kept  him  up 
to  his  speed,  more  than  once  inclined  to  diverge  from  the 
trail  toward  the  pine  forest,  which  covered  the  foothills, 
four  or  five  miles  distant,  on  either  side  of  the  valley,  and 
seek  a  covert  there.     When  half  the  distance  had  been 


168   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

travelled,  he  looked  back,  and  amid  a  cloud  of  dust,  less 
than  three  miles  away,  he  saw  the  robbers  in  pursuit,  seem- 
ingly gaining  rapidly  upon  him.  His  poor,  panting  steed, 
whose  sides  were  bleeding  from  the  frequent  lacerations 
of  the  spur,  seemed  on  the  point  of  exhaustion,  and  the 
thirty  pounds  of  gold  dust  strapped  to  his  person  bore 
with  terrible  weight  upon  him.  But  there  was  no  time  to 
calculate  any  other  chance  for  escape,  than  that  of  reach- 
ing the  goal.  On  and  on  he  spurred  the  jaded  animal, 
often  casting  furtive  glances  back  at  the  approaching 
death,  and  expecting  at  every  turn  in  the  trail  to  feel  the 
fatal  bullet.  At  length  the  little  lodge  of  Contway  peered 
above  the  willows.  The  horse  renewed  his  vigor  at  the 
sight.  The  hurrying  tramp  of  the  pursuers  was  heard  in 
the  rear.  A  last  and  desperate  effort  was  made  to  urge 
the  horse  to  greater  speed,  and  he  dashed  up  to  the  door, 
falling,  on  his  arrival,  with  complete  exhaustion.  He  was 
ruined, —  but  he  had  saved  the  life  of  his  master.  Ives  and 
Cooper,  less  than  fifty  rods  behind,  reined  their  horses  to 
a  walk,  and  rode  slowly  up,  while  Broadwater  was  remov- 
ing the  saddle  from  his  broken-down  animal.  Their  horses 
were  foaming  with  perspiration. 

"  Well,  you  beat  us  on  the  ride,"  said  Ives,  addressing 
Broadwater. 

"  Yes,"  replied  Broadwater,  "  you  must  have  had  trou- 
ble in  catching  your  horses,  I  travelled  slowly  at  first, 
but  as  you  did  n't  come  up,  and  I  was  anxious  to  get 
through,  I  afterwards  hurried." 

The  coolness  of  this  colloquy  betrayed  to  neither  party 
what  was  passing  in  the  mind  of  the  other. 

The  horses  were  all  turned  out  upon  the  adjacent  hills, 
and  the  three  men  shared  alike  the  hospitality  of  Contway. 
But  the  race  was  only  half  finished.     Twenty  miles  of  dis- 
tance intervened  between  Contway's  and  Deer  Lodge,  andj 
how  to  pass  over  it,  and  escape  with  life,  was  the  momen- 


BROADWATER'S  STRATAGEM    169 

tons  question  for  Broadwater  to  solve.  As  a  measurement 
of  wit  between  himself  and  the  ruffians,  it  involved  conse- 
quences too  important  for  any  pride  in  the  strife.  It  was 
simply  a  matter  of  life  or  death  with  him,  with  the  added 
certainty  that  the  smallest  mistake  in  his  calculations  would 
end  in  the  latter.  He  knew  that  in  Contway's  herd  was 
one  of  the  fleetest  horses  in  the  Territory.  Unobserved  by 
his  pursuers,  he  contrived  to  inform  Contway  of  his  situ- 
ation, and  found  him  ready  to  assist  in  his  escape  by  all 
means  in  his  power. 

"  Go  and  saddle  Charley,"  said  Broadwater,  "  and 
bring  him  up,  on  the  pretence  that  you  are  going  after 
3'our  cows.  Do  it  immediately ;  and  after  he  is  hitched, 
I  will  ask  you,  in  the  presence  of  these  men,  for  permis- 
sion to  ride  him  to  Deer  Lodge.  With  your  assent,  re- 
luctantly given,  I  will  mount  and  ride  away,  while  their 
horses  are  grazing  on  the  foothills." 

"  Zat  is  all  ver'  goot,"  replied  Contway.  "  By  Gar, 
you  have  got  him  fixed  all  right  "  —  and  away  he  went, 
returning  in  a  quarter  of  an  hour,  mounted  on  a  horse  of 
great  strength  and  beauty.  Hitching  him  in  front  of  his 
lodge,  he  made  the  remark  that  his  cows  had  been  missing 
for  a  day  or  two,  and  he  must  go  in  pursuit  of  them. 

"  Ho !  Contway,"  said  Broadwater,  "  that  is  the  very 
horse  I  want  to  complete  my  trip.  My  own  is  broken 
down,  and  I  will  leave  him  in  your  care,  and  return  this 
one  to  you  by  the  first  opportunity." 

"  By  Gar,  I  don't  know,"  replied  Contway :  "  zat  horse 
is  great  favorite.  I  would  not  have  him  hurt  for  any- 
thing." 

"  But  I  '11  Tpay  you  well,"  said  Broadwater.  "  I  'm  in 
a  great  hurry  to  get  home.  Let  me  take  him, —  that  's  a 
good  fellow.     If  I  hurt  him,  I  '11  pay  you  your  own  price." 

"  You  say  zat  here,  before  zese  men.  Zey  will  remem- 
ber, and  on  zose  conditions  you  may  take  ze  horse." 


170  VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

It  was  but  the  work  of  a  moment  for  Broadwater  to 
change  saddles  and  mount. 

"  Hold  on,  Broad,"  said  Ives.  "  This  is  no  way  to 
leave  a  fellow.  Wait  till  we  get  up  our  horses,  and  we  '11 
all  ride  on  together.     It  '11  be  more  sociable." 

"  Should  be  glad  to  do  so,  George,  but  it  is  of  the  ut- 
most importance  that  I  reach  Deer  Lodge  as  soon  as  pos- 
sible. I  cannot  wait;  but  if  you  will  get  up  your  horses, 
and  ride  fast  enough,  you  '11  overtake  me." 

So  saying,  Broadwater  put  spurs  to  his  horse,  and  rode 
the  twenty  miles  at  a  double-quick  pace,  arriving  at  Deer 
Lodge  a  little  after  two  o'clock,  completing  the  entire  trip 
of  one  hundred  and  seven  miles  from  Bannack  to  Deer 
Lodge,  including  stoppages,  in  eighteen  hours.  Ives  and 
Cooper,  finding  themselves  outwitted,  followed  leisurely, 
arriving  early  in  the  evening. 


CHAPTER   XIX 

ORGANIZATION  OF  THE  ROUGHS 

WHILE  recovering  from  his  wound,  Plummer,  by 
constant  practice,  had  acquired  an  expertness  in 
the  use  of  the  pistol  with  his  left  hand,  nearly  equal  to 
that  of  which  Crawford's  shot  had  deprived  him.  Craw- 
ford being  out  of  his  way,  he  was  not  satisfied  that  the 
quarrel  which  had  terminated  so  injuriously  to  him  should 
be  propitiated  without  redress.  He  accordingly  selected 
Phleger  for  a  victim.  With  every  outward  demonstration 
of  friendship,  he  would,  whenever  they  met,  press  him  to 
drink,  or  to  an  interchange  of  such  other  civilities  as  would 
bring  them  together,  and  afford  opportunity  or  pretence 
for  sudden  quarrel.  Phleger  never  accepted  any  of  these 
invitations,  without  his  hand  upon  his  pistol.  Plummer, 
often,  when  in  company  with  Phleger,  would  make  an  os- 
tentatious display  of  his  regard  for  him.  "  Once,"  said  he, 
"  Harry,  I  would  have  killed  you ;  but  I  could  not  now, 
when  I  think  matters  all  over,  find  it  in  my  nature  to  in- 
jure any  true  man,  who  would  stand  by  another  as  you 
did  by  Crawford."  Phleger  could  not  be  flattered  by  these 
honeyed  words,  even  into  momentary  forgetfulness  of  the 
diabolical  motives  which  prompted  them.  He  maintained 
a  quiet  but  unmistakable  attitude  of  defence.  He  was 
freighting  at  this  time,  and  had  several  teamsters  in  his 
employ. 

"  If,"  said  he  to  them,  "  Plummer  or  any  of  his  as- 
sociates come  for  me,  and  I  make  the  first  shot  and  you  fail 
to  make  the  second,  I  '11  shoot  you.     Just  remember  that." 

171 


172   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

On  one  occasion,  Plummer,  as  if  for  an  excuse  to  draw 
his  pistol,  commenced  talking  of  its  merits  to  Phleger,  who 
also  drew  his  upon  the  instant.  In  the  course  of  the  con- 
versation, riuninier,  while  illustrating  sonic  quality  of  the 
weapon,  pointed  it  directly  at  Phleger ;  but  when  he  saw 
the  muzzle  of  Phleger's  at  the  same  moment  directed  at 
his  heart,  he  took  the  hint,  sheathed  his  pistol,  and  de- 
parted. Phleger  was  not  afterwards  troubled  with  his 
attentions. 

A  miner  by  the  name  of  Ellis,  who  had  given  important 
testimony  against  Moore  and  Reeves,  by  whom  he  was 
wounded  in  the  vulie  whicli  resulted  in  the  death  of  Ga- 
zette, was  next  singled  out  for  slaughter.  He  owned  a 
mining  claim  in  the  gulch,  which  he  was  working  with 
the  hope  of  speedily  acquiring  means  to  take  him  from 
the  country.  Cyrus  Skinner,  a  noted  ruffian,  assaulted 
him  while  on  his  way  to  the  claim,  and  beat  him  unmerci- 
fully. He  left  him  with  the  assurance  that  if  he  ever  saw 
him  in  the  town  he  would  kill  him.  Through  fear  that 
he  or  some  of  his  associates  would  execute  this  threat,  he 
used  to  steal  out  of  his  cabin  and  go  to  his  woi'k  by  an 
old  game  trail  over  the  spur  of  the  mountain,  to  escape 
observation.  But  his  steps  were  dogged.  He  could  not 
move  in  any  direction  without  a  rough  upon  his  track, 
watching  for  an  opportunity  to  shoot  him.  His  life  was 
rendered  miserable  by  the  conviction  that  he  was  lia- 
ble at  any  moment  to  secret  assassination.  Resolved  to 
escape  if  possible,  he  left  for  Fort  Benton.  The  roughs 
soon  discovered  his  absence,  and  sent  three  or  four  of 
their  number  iji  pursuit  of  him.  He  foiled  them  by  turn- 
ing from  the  main  trail  into  an  unexplored  region.  After 
several  days  he  reached  the  Missouri  River  below  Benton, 
where  he  constructed  a  wigwam  in  which  he  dwelt,  subsist- 
ing upon  roots,  berries,  and  the  remnants  of  his  provis- 
ions, until  the  Mackinaw  boats  descended  the  river  from 


ORGANIZATION  OF  ROUGHS     173 

Fort  Benton  in  the  spring.  Hailing  one  of  them  he  was 
taken  on  board,  and  returned  in  safety  to  the  States. 

The  writer  of  this  history  was  early  marked  for  sum- 
mary retaliation.  I  had  disappointed  the  expectations 
of  the  roughs  at  the  trial  of  Moore  and  Reeves,  by  voting 
for  the  death  penalty,  after  having  supported  their  de- 
mand for  a  jury.  They  made  no  secret  of  their  threats 
against  my  life,  and  that  of  my  friend.  Judge  Walter  B. 
Dance.  We  never  went  to  our  claims  without  a  loaded 
gun  and  a  revolver.  Dance,  being  a  man  of  great  phys- 
ical strength,  and  courage  to  match,  was  not  one  to  be 
easily  frightened.  In  personal  contest  he  would  have 
proved  more  than  a  match  for  the  strongest  of  his  ene- 
mies. On  one  occasion,  when  Judge  Dance  and  I  were 
quietly  walking  down  the  street,  we  saw  Plummer  ap- 
proaching. Dance  drew  a  small  bowie-knife,  and  picking 
up  a  stick,  commenced  whittling.  Plummer  came  up,  and 
casting  a  suspicious  glance  at  the  knife,  asked, 

"  Judge,  why  do  you  always  begin  to  whittle  when  you 
meet  me?  " 

The  answer,  accompanied  by  a  look  of  blended  stern- 
ness and  indignation,  came  promptly, 

"  Because,  sir,  I  never  intend  that  you  shall  get  the 
advantage  of  me.  You  know  my  opinion  of  you  and  your 
friends.  I  will  not  be  shot  down  like  a  dog  by  any  of  you, 
if  I  can  help  it." 

The  roughs  held  Dance  in  great  fear.  To  those  quali- 
ties I  have  mentioned,  he  added  remarkable  force  of 
character.  He  was  bold  and  fearless  in  his  expression  of 
opinion,  and  they  well  understood  that  no  man  in  the  set- 
tlement could  wield  a  stronger  influence  over  the  minds  of 
the  community,  in  support  of  law  and  order,  and  the 
prompt  punishment  of  crime. 

Moore  and  Reeves  had  now  returned.  The  storm  of 
indignation,  which  had  driven  them  out,  was  succeeded  by 


\ 


174   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

a  calm  of  sluggish  incertitude.  The  prominent  actors  in 
that  event,  abandoned  by  those  upon  whose  support  they 
had  depended,  were  obliged  to  protect  themselves  as  best 
they  could  against  the  persecutions  and  bloody  designs  of 
their  vindictive  enemies.  Xo  true  spirit  of  reform  had 
yet  animated  the  people.  When  appealed  to  for  combina- 
tion and  resistance  to  the  fearful  power  now  growing 
into  an  absolute  and  bloody  dictatorship,  they  based  their 
refusal  upon  selfish  and  personal  considerations.  They 
could  not  act  without  endangering  their  lives.  They  in- 
tended to  leave  the  country  as  soon  as  their  claims  were 
worked  out.  They  would  be  driven  from  their  claims, 
and  robbed  of  all  they  had  taken  from  them,  if  they  en- 
gaged in  any  active  opposition  to  the  roughs ;  whereas, 
if  they  remained  passive,  and  attended  to  their  own  busi- 
ness, there  was  a  chance  for  them  to  take  their  mont  v 
back  to  their  families.  It  was  impossible  to  assemble  a 
meeting  for  the  purpose  of  considering  and  discussing 
with  safety,  the  condition  and  exposure  of  the  people. 

Meantime  the  roughs  were  thoroughly  organized,  and 
were  carrying  out  their  plans  for  wholesale  plunder  in 
every  direction.  Every  day  added  to  the  number  and 
magnitude  of  their  depredations.  The  Walla  Walla  ex- 
press had  been  robbed,  as  it  afterwards  appeared,  by 
Plummer's  direction.  An  attempt  to  rob  the  store  of 
Higgins  and  W^orden  at  ^lissoula  would  have  succeeded, 
had  not  the  merchants  been  apprised  of  it,  in  time  to  con- 
ceal their  gold. 

A  man  by  the  name  of  Davenport,  who,  it  was  known 
to  the  roughs,  had  a  little  money  in  Bannack,  left  with  his 
wife,  intending  to  go  to  Benton,  and  thence  by  steamboat 
to  the  States.  They  stopped  to  lunch  at  the  springs  be- 
tween Bannack  and  Rattlesnake.  A  man  whose  face  was 
concealed,  came  from  behind  a  pile  of  rocks  standing  near, 
drew  a  revolver,  and  presenting  it,  demanded  their  money. 


JUDGE  WALTER   B.    DAXCE 

Miners'  Judge  at  Bannock 


ORGANIZATION  OF  ROUGHS     175 

Mrs.  Davenport  asked, 

"Who  are  jou?  " 

He  replied,  "  The  Robber  of  the  Glen." 

"  Oh!  "  she  said  inquiringly,  "  arc  you  Johnny  Glenn?  " 

"No,"  he  answered,  "I'm  the  Robber  of  the  Glen, 
and  want  your  money." 

INIrs.  Davenport  surrendered  the  three  purses  contain- 
ing the  money,  together  with  her  gold  watch,  remarking 
as  she  did  so,  that  two  of  the  purses  and  the  watch  be- 
longed to  her.  With  much  gallantry  of  manner  the  robber 
restored  them  to  her  immediately,  retaining  only  the  single 
purse  belonging  to  her  husband.  The  plundered  couple 
then  proceeded  to  Benton,  and  Mrs.  Davenport  secured  an 
early  passage  to  the  States.  They  never  knew  who  the 
robber  was. 

While  confined  with  his  wound,  Plummer  repeatedly 
asked  permission  of  Doctor  Glick  to  take  a  ride  on  horse- 
back. The  necessity  for  quiet  while  the  wound  was  heal- 
ing obliged  the  doctor  invariably  to  refuse  him.  One 
morning  he  called  as  usual  to  see  how  the  cure  was  pro- 
gressing, and  Plummer  was  not  at  home.  The  doctor 
supposed  he  had  gone  out  into  the  town,  and  at  a  later 
hour  called,  and,  on  examination  of  the  wound,  was  satis- 
fied that  he  had  been  taking  violent  exercise.  On  ques- 
tioning him,  Plummer,  who  knew  that  the  doctor  dared 
not  betray  him,  told  him  of  the  robbery  of  Davenport, 
which  he  had  that  day  committed. 

The  robbers  next  broke  into  and  rifled  a  bakery  belong- 
ing to  one  Le  Grau,  a  Frenchman,  who  lived  on  a  back 
street  in  Bannack.  Preparations  were  made  for  burning 
the  house,  but  the  design  was  not  carried  out. 

While  atrocities  like  these  were  daily  increasing,  a 
reign  of  terror  more  fearful  in  character  and  results  per- 
vaded the  settlement.  Every  man's  life  was  endangered  by 
the    free   and    reckless   use   of   fire-arms.     The    crack    of 


176   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AXD  WAYS 

pistols  and  guns,  which  weapons  were  always  the  first  re- 
sort of  the  roughs  in  settling  disputes,  was  heard  at  all 
hours  of  the  day  and  night,  in  the  saloon  and  restaurant. 

Frequent  and  bloody  affray's  among  themselves,  often 
terminated  in  the  death  of  one  or  both  of  the  parties  en- 
gaged, and  sometimes  of  one  or  more  of  those  who  hap- 
pened to  be  within  range  of  the  reckless  firing  while  the 
quarrel  was  in  progress.  It  was  dangerous  to  pass  along 
the  streets,  where  stray  bullets  were  not  an  exception, 
more  dangerous  still  to  attempt  to  allay  a  broil  among 
desperadoes,  who  settled  all  difficulties  with  bowie-knives 
and  revolvers. 

On  one  of  the  days  of  this  dismal  period,  two  young 
men,  named  Banfield  and  Sapp,  the  first  a  gambler,  the 
latter  a  miner,  engaged  in  a  game  of  poker  in  Cyrus  Skin- 
ner's saloon.  During  the  game,  Sapp  saw  Banfield  ab- 
stract a  card  from  the  deck,  by  the  aid  of  which  he  was 
enabled  to  declare  a  "  flush "  hand.  He  charged  him 
with  the  theft.  Jumping  to  his  feet,  Banfield  drew  his 
revolver,  which  he  levelled  at  the  head  of  his  antagonist, 
who  was  unarmed.  Jack  Russell,  who  was  watching  the 
game,  now  interfered,  and  quiet  being  restored,  the  men 
resumed  play.  In  a  few  moments  Sapp  again  charged 
Banfield  with  cheating.  Banfield  fired  at  him  without 
effect.  Sapp  being  unarmed.  Dr.  Bissell  thrust  a  re- 
volver into  his  hand,  and  the  two  men  at  once  engaged 
in  a  pistol  fight,  dodging  around  the  posts  which  sup-  | 
ported  the  roof,  and  firing  at  random  until  their  revolv- 
ers were  emptied.  They  then  clinched,  and  Russell  tried 
to  separate  them.  Moore  and  Reeves  were  in  one  of  the 
bunks  fastened  to  the  wall  of  the  saloon,  asleep.  Roused 
by  the  firing  both  got  up,  and  INIoore,  pistol  in  hand,  at  ' 
once  joined  in  the  fight.  Placing  the  muzzle  of  his  re- 
volver in  Russell's  ear,  he  pulled  the  trigger,  and  the  cap 
failing  to   explode,   he   pulled   a   second  time,   with  a   like 


ORGANIZATION  OF  ROUGHS     177 

result.  So  rapid  had  been  the  movements  of  Moore,  that 
it  was  not  until  after  the  second  faihire  that  Russell  could 
turn  his  face  toward  him  and  exclaim, 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?  " 

Moore,  who  had  not  recognized  him  until  that  moment 
dropped  his  arm,  replying, 

"Oh,  is  that  you.  Jack?" 

Russell  said  in  explanation, 

"  These  are  friends  of  mine,  and  I  want  them  to  stop 
quarrelling." 

Moore  now  assisted  Russell,  and  they  succeeded  in  a 
few  minutes  in  separating  the  combatants. 

"  Let  's  all  take  a  drink,"  said  Moore,  "  and  be  friends." 

To  this  Sapp  and  Banfield,  as  neither  had  injured  the 
other,  assented.  As  they  stood  with  their  glasses  raised, 
Moore  heard  a  groan,  and  going  towards  the  table,  saw 
Buz  Cavan's  dog  just  expiring. 

"  Boys,"  said  he,  turning  towards  the  two  reconciled 
men  who  were  waiting  for  him  to  rejoin  them  at  the  bar, 
"  you  'vc  killed  a  dog." 

Banfield  called  immediately  for  more  drinks,  when  an- 
other groan  was  heard.  On  going  to  the  bunk  from 
whence  it  came,  they  found  George  Carrhart  writhing  in 
extreme  agony.  Dr.  Bissell  lifted  him  from  the  bunk  to 
the  table,  and  after  a  brief  examination  of  his  body  and 
pulse,  made  the  announcement, 

"  He  is  dying." 

Moore  who  stood  by,  on  hearing  this,  called  to  Reeves 
and  Forbes  who  were  standing  in  another  part  of  the 
room, 

"  Boys,  they  have  shot  Carrhart,"  and  with  an  em- 
phatic stroke  of  his  fist  upon  the  counter,  he  added  with 
an  oath,  "  Let 's  kill  'cm,"  simultaneously  raising  his 
pistol  and  firing  at  both  Sapp  and  Banfield.  Russell 
at    the    same    moment    seized    his    arm,    Avith    a    view    to 


178   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

prevent  his  shooting,  and  in  the  struggle  misdirected  his 
aim.  Meanwhile,  Keeves  fired  at  Banfield,  who  dodged 
under  a  table  and  crept  out  of  the  back  door  with  a  shot 
in  his  knee.  Sapp,  wounded  in  the  little  finger,  also 
retreated  under  the  fire  of  the  road  agents, —  a  friend, 
Goliah  Reilly,  rushing  to  his  assistance,  who  also,  upon 
turning  to  escape,  received  a  bullet  in  his  heel. 

George  Carrhart  was  a  fine-looking,  intelligent,  gentle- 
manly man.  He  had  been  a  member  of  the  legislature  of 
one  of  the  Western  States.  Whiskey  transformed  him 
into  a  rowdy,  made  the  company  of  ruffians  congenial, 
and  led  him  on  to  his  unfortunate  fate. 

Dick  Sapp  was  a  brave,  generous  young  man,  very 
popular  with  the  people.  The  next  morning,  accompa- 
nied by  several  Colorado  friends,  he  returned  to  Skinner's 
saloon.  Skinner,  who  had  seconded  without  participating  I 
in  the  attempt  of  Moore  and  Reeves  to  kill  him  the  even- 
ing before,  wiien  he  saw  him  enter,  was  alarmed  for  his 
own  safety,  and  sought  to  propitiate  him  by  inviting  him 
and  his  friends  to  drink  with  him. 

"  No,"  said  Sapp,  "  I  want  none  of  your  whiske3\   Lastj 
night  I  came  here  unarmed  to  indulge  in  a  little  game  ol 
poker,  and  you  all  tried  to  kill  me.    Now  I  'm  here  to  fightl 
you  all,  singly,  and  I  'vc  brought  some  friends,  to  see  that 
I  have  fair  play." 

Moore  and  Skinner  apologized,  and  begged  him  to  over- 
look it ;  but  Sapp  refused  to  accept  their  apologies,  and 
left.  Afterwards  some  friends  of  Moore  and  Skinner,  at 
their  request,  went  to  Sapp,  and  with  no  little  difficulty 
effected  a  reconciliation. 

Poor  Banfield  entrusted  the  care  of  his  wound  to  an 
unskilful  physician,  and  died  soon  after,  for  the  want  of 
proprr  treatment. 

Karly  in  the  Spring  of  18()J3,  Winnemuck,  a  warrior 
chief  of   the   Baiuuicks,   and  his  band  of  braves,  camped 


I 


ORGANIZATION  OF  HOUGHS     170 

in  the  sage  brush  above  the  town.  One  of  the  citizens  of 
Bannack  made  known  the  fact  that  he  had  been  informed 
by  a  wliite  lad,  whom  he  had  met  at  the  time  of  his  escape 
from  these  Indians  several  years  before,  that  they  had 
slain  his  parents,  and  captured  two  sisters  and  himself. 
The  elder  of  the  sisters  died  of  harsh  treatment.  A  white 
girl  who  had  been  seen  in  Winnemuck's  band,  was  supposed 
to  be  the  other.  A  few  citizens  met  at  my  cabin  to  devise 
means  for  her  ransom,  as  any  attempt  at  forcible  rescue 
would  provoke  the  Indians  to  violence.  Skinner  called 
the  roughs  together  at  his  saloon.  They  decided  that  the 
circumstances  were  sufficiently  aggravating  to  justify  the 
slaughter  of  the  band,  and  made  preparations  for  that 
object.  Meantime  a  half-breed  apprised  Winnemuck  of 
his  danger.  Nowise  alarmed,  the  old  chief  ranged  his 
three  hundred  warriors  along  the  valley,  where  they  could 
command  the  approach  of  an  enemy,  however  formidable. 
So  confident  was  he  of  victory  in  the  threatened  encoun- 
ter, that  he  promised  to  follow  it  up  by  a  general  massa- 
cre of  every  white  person  in  the  gulch.  Fortunately  at 
this  time,  whiskey  came  to  the  rescue.  The  leaders  got 
drunk,  the  allied  citizens  were  disgusted,  and  a  murder- 
ous enterprise  that  would  probably  have  cost  many  lives 
was  abandoned.  In  pursuance  of  the  arrangements  first 
made  at  the  meeting  in  my  cabin,  Mr.  Carroll,  for  a  very 
small  consideration,  effected  the  ransom  of  the  little  girl, 
and  took  her  to  his  cabin. 

The  inadequacy  of  the  price  roused  in  all  a  suspicion 
that  the  Indians  intended  to  recapture  the  child.  Carroll 
was  enjoined  to  secrete  her  against  such  a  possibility. 
The  Indians  loitered  around  his  cabin,  and  finally  made 
an  attempt  to  carry  her  off.  An  alarm  was  given,  the 
citizens  and  roughs  rallied,  the  Indians  released  the  child, 
and  ran  to  escape  the  attack  of  the  citizens.  In  the 
melee,    Hayes   Lyons,   one   of   the    roughs,   fired   at    and 


180   VIGILANTE  DAYS  xVND  WAYS 

wounded  an  Indian  who  was  on  the  retreat,  and  who  at 
the  time  was  shouting  "  good  Indian,"  to  intimate  his 
friendly  disposition.  "  Old  Snag,"  a  Bannack  chief,  who 
had  come  with  his  band  into  town  a  few  days  before,  and 
who  when  the  alarm  was  given  was  in  Carroll's  cabin,  now 
came  out,  and  was  talking  with  his  daughter,  when  Buck 
Stinson,  another  of  the  ruffian  gang,  without  the  least 
intimation  of  his  design,  walked  close  beside  him,  and 
shot  him  in  the  side  and  head.  The  old  man,  who  had 
always  been  friendly  to  the  people,  fell  dead  in  his  tracks ; 
and  Skinner,  with  savage  brutality,  came  up  and  scalped 
him. 


CHAPTER  XX 
A  MASONIC  FUNERAL 

HAD  it  been  possible  at  any  time  during  the  period  I 
have  passed  under  review,  for  the  peaceable  citi- 
zens of  Bannack  to  return  to  their  old  homes  in  safety, 
such  was  the  terror  that  environed  them,  I  doubt  not  that 
nearly  all  would  joyfully  have  gone.  The  opportunity  for 
speedy  accumulation  of  fortune  from  a  prolific  gold 
placer,  offered  small  compensation  for  tlhe  daily  risk 
of  life  in  obtaining  it,  and  the  possibility  of  ultimate  de- 
struction to  the  entire  settlement.  The  people  were  spell- 
bound, and  knew  not  what  to  do.  They  assented  almost 
passively  to  the  belief  that  the  ruffian  population,  when 
disposed,  was  strong  enough  to  crush  them;  and  when  a 
murder  was  committed,  or  a  robbery  made,  expressed  no 
stronger  feeling  than  that  of  thankfulness  for  their  own 
escape. 

While  public  sentiment  was  gradually  settling  down  into 
a  state  of  helpless  submission  to  the  ruffian  element,  Wil- 
liam H.  Bell,  a  respected  citizen,  died  of  mountain  fever. 
This  was  the  first  natural  death  that  had  occurred  in 
the  settlement.  After  his  illness  had  assumed  a  danger- 
ous form,  he  made  known  to  myself  and  others  that  he 
was  a  Mason,  and  expressed  a  desire  to  be  buried  with 
Masonic  ceremonies.  At  first  we  deemed  it  impossible, 
but  after  his  death,  concluded  to  comply  with  his  request, 
if  a  sufficient  number  of  Masons  could  be  assembled  to 
conduct  the  exercises.  A  request  for  all  the  Masons  in 
the  gulch  to  meet  on  Yankee  Flat  at  the  cabin  of  Brother 

181 


182  VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

C.  J.  Miller,  on  the  evening  of  the  day  of  Mr.  Bell's  death, 
greatly  to  our  surprise,  was  so  numerously  responded  to 
that  wc  found  it  necessary  to  adjourn  to  more  commo- 
dious quarters.  It  was  past  midnight  before  the  forms 
of  recognition  were  fully  administered,  and  preparations 
completed  for  the  funeral.  So  delighted  were  all  to  meet 
so  many  of  the  order,  that  before  we  separated  it  was 
virtually  understood  that  early  application  should  be  made 
for  authority  to  open  a  lodge.  In  the  meantime,  we 
agreed  to  hold  frequent  meetings. 

The  funeral  ceremonies,  the  next  da}',  were  conducted 
by  myself.  The  strange  peculiarities  of  the  occasion 
added  a  mournful  interest  to  the  impressive  truths  of  the 
ritual.  A  large  congregation  had  assembled.  Near  by, 
and  surrounding  the  grave,  stood  the  little  band  of  breth- 
ren, linked  by  an  indissoluble  bond  to  him  for  whom  they 
were  now  performing  the  last  sad  office.  With  clasped 
hands  and  uncovered  heads  they  reverently  listened  to  tiie 
solemn  language  which  in  that  far-off  hind  conunitted 
one  of  their  number  to  his  mother  earth;  while  farther 
away,  and  encircling  them,  stood  a  curious  multitude, 
whose  eager  gaze  betrayed  that  they  there  for  the  first 
time  beheld  a  Masonic  burial  ceremony.  Among  this 
latter  number  might  be  seen  many  whose  daily  lives  were 
filled  with  deeds  of  violence  and  crime, —  who  mayhap  at 
the  moment  might  be  meditating  murder  and  robbery, — 
who,  for  the  first  time  in  many  years,  were  listening  to 
language  which  recalled  the  innocence  of  boyhood,  the 
early  teachings  of  parents,  and  hopefully  pointed  the 
way  to  an  eternity  of  inunlxed  enjoyment.  How  strange 
it  seemed  to  see  this  large  assemblage,  all  armed  with 
revolvers  and  bowie-knives,  standing  silently,  respectfully, 
around  the  grave  of  a  stranger,  their  very  features, — 
distorted  l)y  the  lines  which  their  hardened  lives  had 
planted, —  now  saddened  by  a  momentary  fleeting  thought 
of  the  grave  and  imniortality. 


A  MASONIC  FUNERAL  183 

Nor  ■vvas  tills  all.  They  learned  from  what  they  saw 
that  here  was  an  association,  bound  together  by  bonds  of 
brotherly  love,  that  would  stand  by  and  protect  all  its 
members  in  the  hour  of  danger.  They  saw  the  scroll  de- 
posited which  signified  so  plainly  that  death  alone  could 
break  a  link  in  the  mystic  chain  which  bound  them  to- 
gether. They  saw  each  brother  drop  the  evergreen  as 
a  symbol  of  the  surrender  of  him  they  mourned  to  the 
eternal  care  of  a  higher  power.  And  while  the  brethren, 
as  they  regarded  each  other  in  the  light  of  their  strong 
obligations,  felt  that  in  themselves  there  was  a  power  equal 
to  the  necessities  of  their  exposed  condition,  we  may  rea- 
sonably suppose  that  the  ruffians  who  had  marked  them 
for  ultimate  destruction  felt  that  a  new  and  formidable 
adversary  had  thrown  itself  across  their  bloody  pathway. 

The  ceremonies  were  conducted  to  a  peaceful  conclu- 
sion, and  the  assembly  quietly  dispersed.  But  from  this 
time  onward,  the  Masons  met  often  for  counsel.  Among 
them  there  was  no  lack  of  confidence,  and  very  soon  they 
began  to  consider  measures  necessary  for  their  protec- 
tion. These  meetings  were  carefully  watched  by  the 
roughs,  but  they  were  quietly  told  that  the  Masons  met 
to  prepare  for  organizing  a  lodge.  This  threw  them  off 
their  guard,  and  they  continued  in  their  lawless  course. 

As  a  part  of  the  burial  service,  I  read  the  first  ten 
verses- pf  the  thirty-seventh  chapter  of  the  Book  of  the 
Prophet  Ezekiel,  in  these  words : 

"  1.  The  hand  of  the  Lord  was  upon  me,  and  carried  me 
out  in  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord,  and  set  me  down  in  the  midst 
of  the  valley  which  was  full  of  bones. 

"  2.  And  caused  me  to  pass  by  them  round  about;  and, 
behold,  there  were  very  many  in  the  open  valley;  and,  lo, 
they  were  very  dry. 

"  3.  And  he  said  unto  me,  Son  of  man,  can  these  bones 
live?     And  I  answered,  O  Lord  God,  thoa  knowest. 

"  4.  Again   he  said  unto  me,  Prophesy  upon   these  bones. 


184   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

and  say  unto  them,  O  ye  dry  bones,  hear  the  word  of  the 
Lord. 

"5.  Thus  said  the  Lord  God  unto  these  bones:  Behold, 
I  will  cause  breath  to  enter  into  you,  and  ye  shall  live. 

"  6.  And  I  will  lay  sinews  upon  you,  and  will  bring  up 
flesh  upon  you,  and  cover  you  with  skin,  and  put  breath  in 
you,  and  ye  shall  live;  and  ye  shall  know  that  I  am  the  Lord. 

"  7.  So  I  prophesied  as  I  was  commanded :  and  as  I 
prophesied,  there  was  a  noise,  and,  behold  a  shaking,  and  the 
bones  came  together,  bone  to  his  bone. 

"  8.  And  when  I  beheld,  lo,  the  sinews  and  the  flesh  came 
upon  them,  and  the  skin  covered  them  above:  but  there  was 
no  breath  in  them. 

"  9.  Then  said  he  unto  me.  Prophesy  unto  the  wind, 
prophesy,  son  of  man,  and  say  to  the  wind,  Thus  saith  the 
Lord  God :  Come  from  the  four  winds,  O  breath,  and  breathe 
upon  these  slain,  that  they  may  live. 

"  10.  So  I  prophesied  as  he  commanded  me,  and  the  breath 
came  into  them,  and  they  lived,  and  stood  upon  their  feet,  an 
exceeding  great  army." 

Who  can  fittingly  describe  tlint  solemn  scene,  wherein 
was  the  beginning  of  the  redemption  of  Montana  from 
ruffian  rule.''  In  a  vast  sense  the  death  of  Brother  Bell; 
was  a  vicarious  sacrifice.  A  new  power  arose  in  that  be- 
leaguered land  from  that  very  hour,  to  which  all  honest' 
men  instinctively  turned  for  inspiration  and  for  strength. 
^'erily,  the  vision  of  the  Prophet  Ezekiel  of  old,  became 
that  day  a  new  prophecy  In  a  new  land;  for  from  tlie 
dark  canons  of  those  mountains,  where  the  dry  bones  of 
scores  of  nuirdered  victims  were  lying,  and  symbolically 
from  the  new-made  grave  of  our  Brother  Bell,  there  arose, 
"  and  stood  up  upon  their  feet,  an  exceeding  great  army," 
the  avengers  of  outraged  justice,  even  the  Vigilantes  of 
Montana. 

After  the  Masonic  fraternity  at  Bannack  luid  decided 
to  organize  a  regular  lodge,  and  a  dispensation  for  that 
purpose   had  been   applied   for,  Plununer  expressed  pub- 


A  MASONIC  FUNERAL  185 

licly  a  strong  desire  to  become  a  Mason.  Such  were  his 
persuasive  powers  that  he  succeeded  in  convincing  some 
members  of  tlie  order  that,  in  all  his  affrays,  he  had 
been  actuated  solely  by  the  principle  of  self-defence,  and 
that  there  was  nothing  inherently  criminal  in  his  nature. 
Tliere  were  not  wanting  several  good  men  among  our 
brotherhood,  who  would  have  recommended  him  for  ini- 
tiation. 

It  is  a  remarkable  fact  that  the  roughs  were  restrained 
by  their  fear  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  from  attacking  its 
individual  members.  Of  the  one  hundred  and  two  persons 
murdered  by  Henry  Plummer's  gang,  not  one  was  known 
to  be  a  Mason. 

It  is  worthy  of  comment  that  every  Mason  in  these  try- 
ing hours  adhered  steadfastly  to  his  principles.  Neither 
poverty,  persuasion,  temptation,  nor  opportunity  had  the 
effect  to  shake  a  single  faith  founded  on  Masonic  princi- 
ple: and  it  is  the  crowning  glory  of  our  order  that  not 
one  of  all  that  band  o^  desperadoes  w^ho  expiated  a  life 
of  crime  upon  the  scaffold,  had  ever  crossed  the  threshold 
of  a  lodge-room.  The  irregularities  of  their  lives,  their 
love  of  crime,  and  their  recklessness  of  law,  originated  in 
the  evil  associations  and  corrupt  influences  of  a  society 
over  which  neither  Masonry  nor  religion  has  ever  exer- 
cised the  least  control.  The  retribution  which  finally 
overtook  them  had  its  origin  in  principles  traceable  to 
that  stalwart  morality  which  is  ever  the  offspring  of 
Masonic  and  religious  institutions.  All  true  men  then 
lived  upon  the  square,  and  in  a  condition  of  mutual  de- 
pendence. 

Many  persons  who  had  been  cooped  up  in  Bannack, 
with  nothing  to  do  during  the  winter,  sallied  forth  in 
quest  of  new  discoveries  as  soon  as  the  snow  disappeared, 
in  the  Spring  of  1863.  A  number  of  new  gulches  were 
found,  and  the  population  of  Bannack  thinned  out  con- 
siderably   under    the    inducements    they    offered    for    the 


186   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

improvement  of  fortunes.  All  these  newly  discovered  pla- 
cers were,  however,  known  by  the  general  name  of  East 
Bannack,  the  prefix  being  used  to  distinguish  the  locality 
from  West  Bannack,  a  mining  camp  in  that  portion  of 
Idaho  lying  west  of  the  main  range  of  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tains, As  rapidly  as  any  of  these  new  camps  were  set- 
tled, the  miners  adopted  laws  for  their  government,  and 
1  1^  elected  judges  to  enforce  them.  No  sheriff  had,  however, 
been  elected  to  fill  the  place  of  Crawford.  The  miners 
held  a  meeting  at  which  they  concluded  to  elect  one  sheriff 
who  should  reside  at  Bannack,  and  appoint  his  deputies 
for  the  new  locations.  A  day  for  the  election  was  accord- 
ingly designated. 

Plummer  busied  himself  among  the  miners  to  obtain 
the  nomination,  and  as  an  evidence  not  less  of  the  unsteady 
purpose  of  this  popuhition  than  of  the  personal  magnet- 
ism of  this  remarkable  man,  he  succeeded.  Men,  who  a 
few  weeks  before  were  clamorous  for  his  execution  as  a 
murderer,  deceived  by  the  plausibility  of  his  professions, 
and  the  smoothness  of  his  eloquence,  were  now  equally 
urgent  for  his  election  to  tlie  most  important  office  in  the 
settlement.  Such  of  tlie  number  as  were  unwilling  to  sup- 
port him,  nominated  a  good  man  by  the  name  of  Jefferson 
Durlcy,  but  the  majority  for  Plummer  decided  the  elec- 
tion largely  in  liis  favor.  A  marked  change  immediately 
took  place  in  his  conduct.  Soon  after  he  was  married  to 
Miss  Eliza  Bryan,  the  young  lady  with  wliom,  as  I  have 
related  in  a  former  chapter,  he  contracted  an  engagement 
while  spending  the  winter  with  her  brother-in-law,  Mr. 
Vail,  at  the  government  farm  on  Sun  River.  Whether 
he  honestly  intended  to  reform  at  this  time,  or  "  assumed 
the  thing  he  was  not  "  for  the  better  concealment  of  his 
criminal  designs,  can  never  be  certainly  known.  There 
was  much  apparent  sincerity  in  his  conduct  and  profes- 
sions.     He  forsook  the  saloons,  and  was  seldom  seen  in  the 


A  MASONIC  FUNERAL  187 

society  of  his  old  associates.  His  duties  were  promptly 
attended  to.  On  one  occasion  in  a  conversation  with  me, 
of  his  own  seeking,  he  spoke  regr'>tfully  of  his  early  life. 

"  I  confess,"  said  he,  "  that  the  bad  associations  which 
I  formed  in  California  and  Nevada  have  adhered  to  me 
ever  since.  I  was  forced  in  sheer  self-defence,  on  different 
occasions,  to  kill  five  men  there  —  and  of  course  was  un- 
deservedly denounced  as  a  desperado  and  murderer.  This 
is  not  true, —  and  now  that  I  am  married  and  have  some- 
thing to  live  for,  and  hold  an  official  position,  I  will  show 
you  that  I  can  be  a  good  man  among  good  men.  There 
is  a  new  life  before  me,  and  I  want  you  to  believe  that  I 
am  not  unfitted  to  fill  it  with  credit  to  myself,  and  benefit 
to  the  community." 

As  he  stood  thus,  in  a  beseeching  voice  pleading  for 
some  abatement  of  the  harsh  judgment  which  he  knew  his 
conduct  merited,  it  was  not  without  an  effort  that  I  men- 
tally denied  to  him  that  confidence  so  truly  characterized 
by  Pitt  in  his  memorable  reply  to  Walpole,  as  "  a  plant 
of  slow  growth."  Very  soon  after,  the  justice  of  this 
opinion  was  confirmed  by  an  undercurrent  of  circum- 
stances, which  plainly  showed  that  he  was  either  drift- 
ing back  into  the  whirlpool  of  crime,  or  had  assumed  the 
guise  of  virtue  that  he  might  better  serve  the  devil.  His 
face,  usually  clear  and  white,  betrayed  in  its  weather- 
beaten  appearance,  that  several  times  when  there  was  no 
occasion  for  it,  he  had  been  exposed  to  the  inclemencies 
of  a  fearful  night  storm.  Where  had  he  been?  What 
was  the  character  of  that  business  which  could  woo  him 
from  his  home,  to  face  the  angry  elements,  and  require 
his  return  and  appearance  on  the  street  by  daylight?  At 
one  time,  having  occasion  to  go  to  the  ranche  where  my 
horse  was  kept,  I  saw  there  a  very  superior  saddle-horse. 
Having  never  seen  it  before,  on  inquiry,  I  was  informed 
that  it  belonged  to  Plummer,  who  often  visited  the  ranche 


188  VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

to  exercise  it;  but  never  rode  it  into  town,  or  used  it  for 
any  long  journey.  It  was  represented  to  possess  greater 
qualities  of  speed  and  endurance  than  any  horse  in  the 
country.  Why  was  he  keeping  this  horse,  unused,  and 
away  from  the  public  view,  if  not  for  the  purpose  of 
escaping  from  the  country  in  case  of  failure  in  his  crimi- 
nal enterprise.''  Many  other  circumstances,  equally  de- 
monstrative as  to  the  designs  which  Plununer  was  secretly 
carrying  on,  satisfied  me  that  1  had  not  misjudged  his 
true  character. 

Ijife  in  Bannack  at  this  time  was  perfect  isolation  from 
the  rest  of  the  world.  Napoleon  was  not  more  of  an  exile 
on  St.  Helena  than  the  newly  arrived  immigrant  from  the 
States,  in  this  recess  of  rocks  and  mountains.  All  the 
stirring  battles  of  the  season  of  1862, —  Antietam,  Fred- 
ericksburg, and  Second  Bull  Run, —  all  the  exciting  de- 
bates of  Congress,  and  the  more  exciting  combats  at  sea, 
first  became  known  to  us  on  the  arrival  of  the  first  news- 
papers and  letters,  in  the  Spring  of  1863.  Old  news- 
papirs  went  the  rounds  of  the  camps  until  they  literally 
dropped  to  pieces.  Pamphlets,  cheap  publications,  and 
yellow-covered  literature,  which  had  found  their  way  by 
chance  into  the  camp,  were  in  constant  and  unceasing  de- 
mand. Bibles,  of  which  there  were  a  few  copies,  were 
read  by  men  who  probably  never  read  them  before,  to 
while  away  the  tedium  of  the  dreary  days  of  winter.  Of 
other  books  there  were  none  then,  nor  for  a  year  or  more 
afterwards.  ^Aichre,  old  sledge,  poker,  and  cribbage  were  ^ 
resorted  to  until  tlu-y  became  stale,  flat,  and  disgusting. 
Wiien,  afterwards,  the  first  small  library  was  l)r«)ught  into 
the  Territory,  the  owner  was  at  once  overwiulmed  with 
borrowers,  wlio,  after  reading,  loaned  his  books  without 
leave,  until  the  loss  or  destruction  of  many  of  them  drove 
him  to  the  adoption  of  means  for  the  preservation  of  the 
remaindir.     He  placarded  over  his  library,  where  all  could 


A  MASONIC  FUNERAL  189 

read  it,  the  following  passage  from  Matthew  xxv.  9 :  "  Not 
so ;  lest  there  be  not  enough  for  us  and  you ;  but  go  ye 
rather  to  them  that  sell,  and  buy  for  yourselves."  This 
gentle  hint  served  better  as  a  joke  than  an  admonition. 

As  a  counterpoise  to  this  condition  of  affairs,  the  new- 
comer found  much  in  the  rough,  wild  scener}^,  the  habits, 
customs,  and  dress  of  the  miners,  and  in  the  pursuits  of 
the  camp,  to  interest  his  attention.  There  was  a  freedom 
in  mountain  life  entirely  new  to  him.  The  common  forms 
of  expression,  rough,  unique,  and  full  of  significance,  were 
such  as  he  had  never  been  accustomed  to  hear.  The  spirit 
of  a  humor  full  of  fun,  displaying  itself  practically  on  all 
occasions,  often  at  his  own  expense,  presented  so  many 
new  phases  of  character,  that  he  was  seldom  at  a  loss 
for  agreeable  pastime,  or,  indeed,  profitable  occupation. 

The  wit  of  a  mining  camp  is  sui  generis.  It  partakes 
of  the  occupation,  and  grows  out  of  it  as  naturally  as  the 
necessities.  Indeed,  it  is  of  itself  a  necessity, —  for  the 
instance  of  a  miner  without  humor  or  a  relish  for  it,  if  it 
be  of  the  appreciable  kind,  is  very  rare.  One  must  be 
versed  in  the  idiom  of  the  camp  to  always  understand  it. 
As  for  example,  if,  in  speaking  of  another,  a  miner  says, 
"  I  have  panned  that  fellow  out  and  could  n't  get  a  color," 
it  means  the  same  as  if  he  had  said,  "  He  's  a  man  of  no 
principle,  dishonest,  or  a  scamp."  So  if,  of  another,  he 
says,  "  He  's  all  right,  clear  down  to  bed-rock,"  it  means, 
"  He  is  honest  and  reliable."  A  hundred  expressions  of 
this  kind  are  in  common  use  in  a  mining  camp.  Common 
parlance  has  long  ago  wrung  the  humor  from  all  these 
oddities  of  expression ;  but  every  now  and  then  something 
new  springs  up  which  has  its  run  through  mining  commu- 
nities as  a  bit  of  fun,  before  its  final  incorporation  into 
the  epidemic  vernacular. 

It  occasionally  happens  that  a  genuine  loafer  turns  up. 
This  is  not  connnon ;  for  a  man  without  money  or  employ- 


190   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

ment,  among  miners,  especially  if  he  evinces  an  indisposi- 
tion for  work,  is  a  pitiable  object.  Nobody  cares  for  him. 
His  very  necessities  are  subjects  for  ribaldry-,  and  his 
laziness  affords  ample  excuse  for  a  neglect  which  may  end 
in  absolute  starvation.  There  is  no  lack  of  kindness 
among  miners, —  their  generosity  is  only  bounded  by  their 
means  in  meritorious  cases,  but  it  is  cruelly  discrimina- 
tive against  bummers  and  loafers.  They  must  live  by 
their  wits, —  and  sometimes  this  resource  is  available. 

A  singular  genius  known  as  "  Slippery  Joe,"  whose 
character  reflected  the  twofold  qualities  of  bummer  and 
loafer,  hung  around  the  saloons  and  restaurants  in  the 
early  days  of  Bannack.  He  worked  when  compelled  by 
necessity,  and  was  never  known  to  buy  "  a  square  meal." 
One  evening  he  was  an  on-looker  at  a  party  of  miners  who 
were  playing  euchre  in  Kustar's  bakery.  Their  frequent 
potations,  as  was  often  the  case,  developing  first  noise, 
then  dispute,  then  quarrel,  finall}'  culminated  in  a  fight 
and  general  row.  Pistols  and  knives  were  drawn,  one 
man  was  badly  stabbed,  and  several  shots  fired.  The  by- 
standers stampeded  through  the  door  and  into  the  street, 
to  avoid  injury.  One  man  was  prostrate,  and  another 
bent  over  him,  with  an  upraised  knife.  Kustar  and  his 
bartender  were  engaged  in  quelling  the  mtUe.  'Seizini; 
this  opportunity,  Slippery  Joe  stole  behind  the  counter, 
and  taking  a  couple  of  pies  from  the  shelf,  mashed  them 
out  of  shape  with  iiis  knuckles,  and  laid  them,  still  in  the 
tin  plates,  on  the  floor  near  the  combatants.  He  did  not 
dare  to  steal  the  pies,  knowing  that  detection  would  result 
in  his  banishment  from  the  gulch.  Kustar,  discover- 
ing them  after  the  fight  was  over,  supposed  from  the  ap- 
pearance they  presented,  that  they  had  been  jarred  fronii 
the  shelf  and  trodden  upon.  He  was  about  casting  them: 
into  the  street,  when  Joe  stepped  forward,  and  offered! 
twenty-five  cents  for  them,  pies  at  the  time  l>eing  sold  at 


A  MASONIC  FUNERAL  191 

a  dollar  apiece.  Glad  to  sell  them  at  any  price,  Kustar 
regarded  the  quarter  of  a  dollar  as  clear  gain,  and  the 
sneak  owed  his  supper  to  his  criminal  ingenuity. 

This  same  slippery  individual  was  the  hero  of  another 
foraging  exploit,  which,  however  we  may  regard  it  in  a 
moral  aspect,  was  not  discreditable  to  his  strategic  per- 
spicacity. Two  partners  in  a  mining  claim  had  quar- 
relled, fought,  and  so  far  reconciled  differences  as  to 
agree  to  live  together.  One  day  a  load  of  potatoes,  the 
first  that  we  had  had  for  eight  months,  and  a  great  luxury 
at  sixty  cents  per  pound,  arrived  from  the  Bitter  Root 
Valley.  The  two  miners  bought  several  pounds,  and  agreed 
upon  having  a  holiday,  with  an  old-fashioned  stew  for 
dinner  at  three  o'clock  p.m.  Joe  had  epicurean  tastes, 
and  longed  for  a  dish  of  the  stew.  He  stationed  himself 
near  the  door  of  the  cabin.  Just  after  it  was  taken  from 
the  pan,  and  placed,  steaming  hot,  between  the  partners, 
and  one  was  in  the  act  of  slicing  the  loaf,  Joe  entered, 
and  with  much  adroitness  introduced  the  subject  of  form.er 
diff'erence.  This  brought  on  a  dispute,  and  the  two  men 
rose  from  the  table  and  rushed  into  the  street  to  engage 
in  a  fist  fight.  While  thus  employed,  Joe  made  a  single 
meal  of  the  entire  stew. 

In  the  early  days  of  gold  hunting  In  California,  many 
young  men  of  religious  proclivities,  who  had  been  reared 
by  Christian  parents,  went  there  to  make  speedy  fortunes 
and  return  home.  Failing  to  do  so,  unwilling  to  work,  and 
still  intent  upon  suddenly  acquiring  wealth,  they  have 
wandered  from  camp  to  camp  among  the  mountains  ever 
since.  These  mining  vagabonds  are  often  met  with.  Their 
lives  have  been  full  of  vicissitude  and  disappointment,  and 
nature  has  covered  them  with  signs  and  labels,  which  ren- 
der their  character  unmistakable.  Lost  to  all  self-respect, 
ragged,  uncombed,  often  covered  with  vermin,  they  seem 
to  have  no  definite  object  in  life,  and  are  content  to  earn 


192   VIGILANTE  DAYS  xVXD  WAYS 

enough  to  ckc  out  a  meagre  subsistence.  Sometimes  we 
meet  with  one,  wlio  betrays  in  the  glow  of  conversation 
the  remains  of  a  cultivated  foreground ;  but  generally  the 
slang  of  the  camp  and  the  rough  manners  of  the  miner 
have  wrought  a  radical  transformation  in  both  mind  and 
body. 

Such  an  one  was  Bill  —  with  whom  I  first  became  ac- 
quainted in  1863.  Passing  Mather's  saloon,  one  day  in 
the  Fall  of  1872,  I  caught  a  glimpse  of  him,  and  stepped 
in  to  renew  my  acquaintance.  He  stood  by  the  bar  talk- 
ing with  a  friend  whom  he  had  known  at  Boise  City,  Idaho, 
in  1862.  The  conversation  had  reference  to  those  early 
days. 

"  Jim,"  he  inquired,  "  when  did  you  hear  of  Yeast  Pow- 
der Dave  last?"  A  little  farther  on  in  tiie  conversation, 
after  taking  a  drink,  Jim  inquired  in  return,  "  Whatever 
became  of  Tin  Cup  Joe?  "  Then  the  conversation  flag- 
ging, another  drink  was  indulged,  and  the  inquiry  fol- 
lowed, "  How  late  have  you  heard  where  Six  Toed  Pete 
hangs  out?  "  At  last  Bill,  fully  warmed  up  to  the  sub- 
ject, remarked, 

"Jim,  you  haven't  forgot  the  parson,  have  you?" 

"  Parson  who?  "  inquired  Jim  dubiously. 

"  Parson  Crib  —  yon  know." 

At  the  mention  of  the  name,  tears  came  into  the  eyes 
of  both.  It  was  evident  the  memory  of  the  man  was  very 
pleasant.     Bill  continued, 

"  Jim,  they  don't  have  no  such  preachers  nowadays  as 
tile  parson  was.  These  newcomers,  most  of  'em  feel  above 
us  'cause  we  wear  ragged  clothes,  and  then  they  are  so 
slow  and  lamb-like,  that  their  talks  have  little  effect  on 
such  fellows  as  you  and  me;  but  the  old  parson  used  to 
rattle  up  the  boys  every  clatter,  and  when  he  'd  got 
through  they  'd  think  their  chances  of  salvation  were 
mighty  slim.     And  he  was  Kuch  a  good  man,  so  charitable 


A  MASONIC  FUNERAL  193 

and  so  kind  —  and  how  beautifully  and  eloquently  he 
would  explain  the  Christian  religion  as  he  talked  to  us  of 
our  duties  to  the  Master.  He  was  a  real  good  man.  There 
ain't  many  like  him."  Brushing  a  tear  from  his  cheek, 
he  added  sorrowfully,  "  Jim,  do  you  know  I  never  did 
quite  forgive  Sam  Jones  for  shooting  the  parson,  for 
stealing  that  sorrel  mare." 

It  must  have  been  a  warm  affection  which  would  fail 
to  approve  of  an  act  regarded  so  just  as  shooting  or 
hanging  for  "  cribbing  "  a  horse  in  a  mining  camp.  The 
parson  is  supposed  to  have  held  forth  near  Boise  City. 

Those  of  my  readers  who  resided  in  Bannack  at  the 
time  doubtless  remember  the  "  Miners'  Ten  Command- 
ments," written  copies  of  which  were  circulated  freely 
throughout  the  camp.  I  recall  two  of  them.  If  the  first 
one  here  given  serves  to  illustrate  the  prevailing  customs 
of  a  mining  camp,  the  other  contains  a  warning  which 
the  dishonest  and  covetous  did  not  fail  to  heed. 

"  P'ouRTH  Commandment.  Thou  shalt  not  remember  what 
thy  friends  do  at  home  on  the  Sabbath  day,  lest  the  remem- 
brance may  not  compare  favorably  with  what  thou  doest.  Six 
days  thou  mayst  dig  or  pick  all  that  thy  body  can  stand 
under ;  but  the  other  day  is  Sunday,  when  thou  shalt  wash  all 
thy  soiled  shirts,  darn  all  thy  stockings,  tap  all  thy  boots, 
mend  all  thy  clothing,  chop  all  thy  whole  week's  firewood, 
make  up  and  bake  thy  bread,  and  boil  thy  pork  and  thy 
beans,  that  thou  wait  not  when  thou  returnest  from  thy  long 
tour,  weary.  For  in  six  days'  labor  only,  thou  canst  not 
wear  out  thy  body  in  two  whole  years;  but  if  thou  workest 
hard  on  Sunday  also,  thou  canst  do  it  in  six  months,  and 
thou,  and  thy  son,  and  thy  daughter,  thy  male  friend,  and 
thy  female  friend,  thy  morals,  and  thy  conscience,  be  none 
the  better  for  it,  but  reproach  thee  shouldst  thou  ever  return 
with  thy  worn-out  body  to  thy  mother's  fireside,  and  thou 
strive  to  justify  thyself,  because  the  trader  and  the  merchant, 
the  carpenter  and  the  blacksmith,  the  tailors  and  the  Jews, 


194  VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

defy  God  and  civilization,  by  keeping  not  the  Sabbath  day, 
and  wish  not  for  a  day  of  rest  such  as  memory  and  home  and 
youth  made  hallowed. 

"  Ninth  Commaxdmkxt.  Thou  shalt  not  tell  any  false 
tales  about  '  good  diggings  in  the  mountains  '  to  thy  neighbor, 
that  thou  mayst  benefit  thy  friend  who  hath  mules  and  pro- 
visions and  blankets  and  mining  tools  he  cannot  sell ;  lest  in 
deceiving  thy  neighbor,  when  he  rcturneth  through  the  snow 
with  naught  save  his  rifle,  he  prescnteth  thee  with  the  con- 
tents thereof,  and  like  a  dog  thou  shalt  fall  down  and  die." 


CHAPTER   XXI 

BATTLE  OF  BEAR  RIVER 

DURING  the  year  preceding  the  period  whereof  I 
write,  and  in  fact  from  the  time  of  the  discovery 
of  the  Sahnon  River  mines,  nearly  every  train  or  single 
company  of  immigrants  going  in  that  direction  was  at- 
tacked, robbed,  the  animals  belonging  to  it  stolen,  and 
frequently  many  of  the  persons  composing  it  slain,  by 
predatory  bands  of  Bannack  Indians,  which  tribe  pos- 
sessed the  entire  country  for  a  distance  of  five  hundred 
miles  north  of  Salt  Lake  City.  Their  rapacity  and  cruelty 
had  become  the  great  terror  of  a  journey  otherwise  full  of 
difficulty  and  discouragement.  So  frequent  and  terrible 
had  been  this  warfare,  that  nearly  all  communication  be- 
tween the  distant  mines  and  Salt  Lake  City  was  suspended ; 
yet  the  wretches  who  conducted  it,  conscious  of  their  supe- 
rior power,  hesitated  not,  meantime,  to  visit  the  settlements, 
and  maintain  an  apparent  friendliness  towards  the  peo- 
ple. Several  attacks  had  been  made  upon  them  by  de- 
tachments of  troops  from  Camp  Douglas,  attended  with 
more  or  less  success,  but  none  of  them  had  the  effect  to 
allay  their  murderous  depredations.  Success  had  made 
them  defiant  as  well  as  bloodthirsty,  and  long  impunity 
begot  in  them  the  belief  that  they  were  invincible. 

When  the  winter  began  to  close  in,  rich  in  the  spoils 
of  their  bloody  forays,  a  large  band  of  nearly  three  hun- 
dred Bannacks,  under  their  chiefs  Sand  Pitch,  Sag  Witch, 
and  Bear  Hunter,  established  quarters  for  the  cold  months 
in  a  ravine  on  the  west  bank  of  Bear  River,  about  four 

195 


196  VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

days'  marcli  distant  from  the  Federal  camp.  Gen.  P.  Ed- 
uard  Connor,  the  officer  in  connnand  at  Camp  Douglas, 
had  carefully  watched  their  movements  with  the  intention 
of  inflicting  the  severest  punishment  upon  them  for  the 
enormities  they  had  committed.  The  example  to  be  salu- 
tary, must  be  terrible,  and  Connor  contemplated  nothing 
less  than  the  destruction  of  the  entire  band.  It  was  a 
measure  of  safety.  Many  thousand  people  in  the  States 
and  Territories  were  engaged  in  active  preparation  to 
make  the  journey  to  the  northern  mines,  on  the  return  of 
warm  weather,  and  the  lives  and  property  of  many  of 
them  depended,  as  General  Connor  knew,  upon  the  suc- 
cess of  his  contemplated  expedition. 

The  Indians  selected  their  camp  because  of  the  protec- 
tion it  afrorded  from  the  inclemencies  of  the  weather.  The 
general  southwest  course  of  the  river  was,  by  a  bend, 
changed  so  as  to  be  nearly  due  west  where  it  passed  their 
encampment.  The  nook  or  ravine,  open  on  the  bank, 
stretched  tortuously  between  high  precipitous  banks,  north 
from  the  river  several  hundred  yards,  until  lost  in  the 
abrupt  ascent  of  a  lofty  overhanging  mountain.  Clumps 
of  willows  grew  irregularly  over  the  surface  of  the  little 
dell,  amid  which  the  Indians  pitched  their  buffalo  tents, 
and  fastened  their  ponies  for  better  protection  against 
wind  and  snow.  Their  women  and  children  were  with 
them,  and  all  the  conveniences  and  comforts  known  to 
savage  life  were  clustered  around  them. 

Perceiving  soon  after  they  took  possession  of  the  spot, 
that  it  united  with  its  other  advantages  admirable  means 
of  defence  against  an  approaching  enemy,  they  went  to 
work,  and  improved,  by  excavation  and  otherwise,  every 
assailable  point,  until  satisfied  that  it  was  perfectly  im- 
pregnable. During  the  occasional  visits  of  their  chiefs 
and  hoad  men  to  the  settlements,  they  learned  and 
came   to  believe  that  an  attack   of  some   kind   would   be 


I 


BATTLE  OF  BEAR  RIVER        197 

made  upon  them  before  spring.  They  relished  the  idea 
as  a  good  joke,  and  with  more  than  customary  bravado 
declared  their  readiness  to  meet  it,  boldly  challenging  the 
whites  to  come  on. 

The  winter  sped  on.  Colder  than  usual  even  in  these 
high  latitudes,  both  Indians  and  whites  felt  that  if  noth- 
ing else  would  prevent  an  attack,  the  cold  weather  was 
sufficient.  General  Connor  kept  his  own  counsel,  but  ma- 
tured his  plans  with  consummate  skill.  The  citizens  of 
Salt  Lake  City,  seeing  no  military  preparations  in  pro- 
gress, grew  restive  under  the  delay,  charged  the  garrison 
with  neglect  of  duty,  and  finally  appealed  to  the  civil 
authorities.  In  the  latter  days  of  January,  when  General 
Connor's  plans  were  approaching  maturity.  Chief  Justice 
Kinney  issued  warrants  for  the  arrest  of  Sand  Pitch,  Sag 
Witch,  and  Bear  Hunter,  for  murders  committed  by  them 
on  emigrants  passing  through  the  Territory.  The  officer 
directed  to  serve  these  writs,  on  one  of  the  coldest  days  of 
the  middle  of  Januarj^  applied  to  General  Connor,  at 
Camp  Douglas,  for  an  escort. 

"  I  have  an  expedition  against  the  Indians  in  contem- 
plation," said  the  general,  "  which  will  march  soon.  You 
can  go  under  its  escort ;  but  as  I  do  not  intend  to  take 
any  prisoners,  I  cannot  tell  you  whether  you  will  be  able 
to  serve  your  writ  or  not.  My  opinion  is  you  will  find 
it  difficult." 

Whether  the  intimation  conveyed  in  this  closing  re- 
mark touched  the  official  pride  of  the  marshal,  or  not,  I 
cannot  say.  Certain  it  is  that  he  concluded  at  once  to 
accompany  the  expedition,  and  arrest  the  accused  chiefs. 

The  Indians  were  on  the  watch  for  an  attack,  and  had 
their  runners  out  with  instructions  to  bring  them  the  ear- 
liest information  of  an  approaching  foe.  On  the  morn- 
ing of  the  twenty-second,  Captain  Samuel  N.  Hoyt,  with 
forty  men  of  Company  K  of  infantry,  two  howitzers,  and 


198  VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

a  train  of  fifteen  baggage  wagons,  left  Camp  Douglas 
with  secret  orders  to  march  leisurely  in  the  direction  of 
the  Indian  encampment.  The  Indian  spies,  under  prom- 
ise of  secrecy,  were  told  by  some  who  assumed  to  know, 
that  this  was  the  army  sent  to  exterminate  the  Indians. 
They  carried  the  intelligence  to  the  Indians,  where  it  ex- 
cited great  derision.  The  little  company  marched  very 
slowly,  making  their  roads  through  the  snows  of  the  di- 
vides, and  were  careful  to  afford  the  Indian  scouts  full 
opportunity  to  learn  their  strength  and  armament.  The 
chiefs  unconcernedly  gave  orders  to  their  warriors  to 
prepare  for  a  warm  reception  of  the  foe,  while  they  vis- 
ited the  settlements.  On  the  morning  of  the  sixth  day's 
march,  Captain  Hoyt  and  his  men  reached  the  vicinity  of 
the  present  town  of  Franklin,  within  a  few  hours'  march 
of  the  Indian  stronghold.  Bear  Hunter,  who  was  there 
at  the  time,  seeing  how  few  the  men  were  in  number,  left 
immediately  in  high  glee,  at  the  prospect  of  cutting  them 
off  the  next  day. 

At  midnight  that  night,  after  a  ride  of  four  nights, 
one  of  sixty  miles,  the  others  of  easier  marches,  through 
deep  snows  and  a  piercing,  bitter  wind  that  nearly  dis- 
abled a  third  of  the  command.  Major  McGarry,  at  the 
head  of  two  hundred  cavalry,  accompanied  by  General 
Connor  and  his  aids,  rode  into  the  little  camp,  and 
bivouacked  with  the  infantry.  The  Indians  knew  nothing 
of  this  arrival.  So  far  the  plan  for  their  destruction 
was  successful.  The  troops  slept  on  their  arms.  Orders 
were  given  to  the  infantry  to  march  an  hour  after  mid- 
night. They  were  obliged  to  break  their  road  through 
the  snow,  which  completely  covered  the  entire  region  to 
the  depth  of  one  or  two  feet.  The  heavy  howitzers  were 
dragged  through  it,  over  the  unequal  surface,  with  great 
difficulty,  and  fi)r  the  purpose  of  concealment,  kept  in  the 
rear.      Several  hours  after  the  infantry  started,  the  cav- 


GEXKKAL   P.    E.    COXXOK 

('o)ntn(ni(h-r  at  Battle  of  Bear  River 


BATTLE  OF  BEAR  RIVER         199 

ttlry  dashed  by  them  and  drew  up  on  the  south  bank  of 
Bear  River  before  the  dawn  broke  over  the  Indian  camp. 
The  savages  were  prepared  for  the  attack.  The  ravine 
rang  with  their  fearful  and  defiant  howhng. 

The  passage  of  the  river  was  very  difficult.  Covered 
at  the  bottom  to  the  depth  of  a  foot  or  more  with  anchor- 
ice,  its  rapid  current,  too  strong  for  congealment  at  its 
surface,  was  filled  with  floating  masses  of  ice,  whose  sharp 
edges  and  great  weight  threatened  disaster  to  every  horse 
which  ventured  the  treacherous  passage.  But  there  was 
no  alternative.  The  troops  who  had  dismounted  to  load 
their  pistols,  now  remounted  their  horses,  and  led  by  Ma- 
jors McGarry  and  Gallagher,  by  slow,  tedious,  and  care- 
ful effort,  succeeded  in  reaching  the  northern  bank  in 
safety.  Before  the  passage  was  completed,  however,  the 
companies  of  Captain  Price  and  Lieutenant  Chase,  which 
were  the  first  to  land,  had  drawn  up  in  line  of  battle. 
Captain  McLean  and  Lieutenant  Quinn,  with  their  com- 
mands, had  barely  joined  them,  when  the  Indians  opened 
the  fight  with  a  shower  of  balls,  wounding  one  of  the  men. 

General  Connor  had  instructed  McGarry  to  surround 
the  ravine,  and  was  himself  at  this  moment  awaiting  the 
arrival  of  the  infantry  on  the  south  side  of  the  river. 
He  had  not  anticipated  so  early  a  commencement  of  the 
fight,  but  leaving  his  orders  to  be  given  by  his  aid,  he 
hastily  crossed  the  river  and  joined  McGarry.  That 
officer  finding  it  impossible  with  the  two  companies  at  his 
disposal  to  outflank  the  Indians,  ordered  them  to  advance 
as  skirmishers.  Up  to  this  time  the  Indians  had  been 
tantalizing  our  troops  by  their  appearance  upon  the 
benches,  over  which  it  was  necessary  to  pass  before  an  at- 
tack could  be  made  from  the  east  on  their  stronghold.  At 
the  approach  of  the  skirmishing  party  they  retreated  un- 
der cover  of  the  precipitous  bank,  where,  entirely  pro- 
tected from  our  guns,  they  opened  a  galling  and  deadly 


200   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

fire,  killing  and  wounding  several  of  Connor's  men.  The 
General  ordered  his  men  to  protect  themselves  as  much  as 
possible,  and  sent  McGarry  forward  with  a  detachment  to 
scale  the  mountain  which  enclosed  the  ravine  on  the  north, 
and  outflank  the  Indians  on  the  left,  while  the  companies 
on  the  benches  attacked  them  in  front. 

At  this  stage  of  the  fight,  the  most  disastrous  to  our 
troops,  Captain  Hoyt  arrived  with  the  infantry  on  the 
south  bank  of  the  river.  He  had  heard  the  firing  at  a 
distance,  and  hurried  forward  his  men,  who  in  their  eager- 
ness for  the  fray,  attempted  to  ford  the  river,  but  found 
it  impossible.  Wet  and  chilled  they  crossed  the  river  on 
cavalry  horses  sent  from  the  north  side,  and  galloped  up 
to  the  battle,  just  in  time  to  enable  McGarry,  with  their 
assistance,  to  complete  his  flanking  movement.  Captain 
Hoyt  now  came  up  with  a  portion  of  his  men  on  the  west 
side  of  the  ravine,  extending  the  cordon  so  as  to  form 
about  three-fourths  of  a  circle,  embracing  three  sides  of 
the  Indian  camp.  The  fight  now  became  very  brisk.  By 
the  enfilading  fire  from  the  east,  west,  and  north  sides  of  the 
ravine,  the  Indians  were  gradually  driven  to  the  centre 
and  south.  Their  stronghold  proved  a  complete  cul 
de  sac,  and  they  were  entirely  at  the  mercy  of  the 
troops.  Taken  at  this  great  disadvantage,  and  seeing 
their  chiefs  and  head  men  falling  around  them,  they  fought 
with  desperate  bravery,  moving  slowly  toward  the  mouth 
of  the  ravine  on  the  west  side  of  which  General  Connor 
had  stationed  a  detachment  of  cavalry  to  cut  off  tlieir  re- 
treat. The  great  slaughter  occasioned  by  the  incessant 
fire  of  the  troops,  at  length  broke  the  Indians'  line.  Each 
man  sought  how  best  to  save  himself.  Many  of  them  ran 
in  the  most  disorderly  manner  to  the  mouth  of  the  ravine, 
where  they  fell  in  heaps  before  the  deadly  fire  of  the  rifles. 
Some  attempted  to  cross  the  river,  but  did  not  live  to 
effect  it.     Others  crawled  into  the  willow  clumps  with  the 


BATTLE  OF  BEAR  RIVER        201 

hope  of  escaping  notice,  but  the  troops  were  ordered  to 
scour  the  bushes,  and  dislodge  them.  Many  of  these  lat- 
ter disclosed  their  places  of  concealment  by  firing  from 
them  upon  the  troops,  as  if  resolved  to  sell  their  lives  as 
dearly  as  possible.  The  last  Indian  foe  waited  his  oppor- 
tunity. While  iNIajor  Gallagher  was  leading  a  detach- 
ment Into  a  thicket,  the  savage  fired  upon  him.  The  ball 
passed  through  his  left  arm  into  his  side.  Again  the  In- 
dian fired,  and  a  cavalryman  fell  from  his  horse  beside 
General  Connor.  The  flash  of  his  rifle  revealed  his  hiding- 
place,  and  a  volley  from  the  detachment  ended  the  bloody 
contest. 

The  details  I  have  here  given  of  this  battle,  while  they 
sufficientl}^  demonstrate  the  skill  and  bravery  of  the  offi- 
cers and  men  by  whom  it  was  fought,  would  be  wanting  in 
justice  to  them  did  I  fail  to  mention  other  Incidental  facts 
connected  with  it,  which  entitle  them  to  additional  claims 
upon  our  gratitude  and  admiration.  Few  people  who 
have  never  experienced  a  winter  In  the  Rocky  Mountains 
know  how  to  appreciate  the  elemental  difficulties  attend- 
ing the  march  of  such  an  expedition  as  this  one  of  Gen- 
eral Connor's.  The  sudden  storms,  the  deep  snows,  the 
trackless  wastes,  the  rapid,  half-frozen  mountain  torrents, 
the  lofty  divides,  the  keen  blasts,  and  the  pinching  nights, 
coupled  with  all  the  unavoidable  demands  which  nmst  en- 
cumber the  movements  of  troops  and  artillery  through  a 
countr}^  that  for  most  of  the  distance  Is  entirely  desolate, 
should  give  this  expedition  a  conspicuous  place  among 
the  remarkable  events  of  our  country's  history.  Seventy- 
four  of  the  number  engaged  In  It  had  their  feet  frozen  by 
exposure.  The  night  rides  of  the  cavalry  to  overtake  the 
Infantry  would  furnish  as  thrilling  a  theme  for  song  as 
any  of  the  rides  during  our  National  struggle,  which  have 
been  thus  Immortalized.  The  transportation  of  muni- 
tions, camp  equipage,  and  heavy  artillery  through  eighty 


202   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AXD  WAYS 

miles  of  snow,  which  for  most  of  the  distance  was  un- 
marked by  a  road,  over  mountains,  through  canons,  and 
across  unbridged  streams,  furnishes  a  chapter  that  can 
find  no  parallel  in  our  former  military  experience.  I  men- 
tion them,  that  my  readers  may  form  some  idea  of  the 
amount  of  labor  and  care  necessary  to  carry  such  an  en- 
terprise through  with  success,  and  give  the  proper  credit 
to  those  who  accomplished  it. 

Through  the  kindness  of  General  Connor  I  am  enabled 
to  give  the  names  and  rank  of  those  wlio  were  killed  and 
wounded.  All  the  officers  and  men  fought  with  great 
bravery.  General  Connor  himself,  during  the  entire  four 
hours  the  battle  was  in  progress,  was  always  in  the  thick- 
est of  it,  and  seldom  out  of  range  of  the  deadly  rifles  of 
the  Indians.     The  historian  of  the  battle  says  : 

"  General  Connor  exhibited  high  qualities  of  command, 
and  his  perfect  coolness  and  bravery  are  the  universal 
theme  of  praise.  Possibly  some  might  have  been  better 
pleased  with  less  exposure  of  their  commander,  but  I  have 
the  best  authority  for  saying  it  was  the  call  of  duty,  and 
not  indiflFerence." 

The  object  of  the  fight  was  fully  accomplished.  Two 
hundred  and  sixty-seven  Indians  were  killed,  several  of 
their  leading  chiefs  among  the  number.  Not  fifteen  es- 
caped to  tell  the  story  of  the  battle. 

This  victory  removed  at  once  and  forever  the  greatest 
impediment  in  the  way  of  emigration  to  the  new  Terri- 
tory and  a  safe  exit  from  it  for  those  who  wished  to  return 
to  their  homes  in  the  States.  Previous  to  it  people  could 
not,  with  safety,  pass  in  either  direction  except  in  large 
and  strongly  armed  companies;  and  with  certain  exposure 
to  the  Indians  on  the  one  hand,  and  the  robbers  and  brig- 
ands on  the  other,  with  no  other  possible  outlet  for 
escape  except  by  crossing  the  Territory  to  Fort  Benton 
or   over   the  Coeur   D'Alene  Mountains  to  Walla  Walla, 


BATTLE  OF  BEAR  RIVER        203 

both  very  uncertain  and  dangerous  routes,  the  inhabitants 
of  the  Territory  were  completely  at  the  mercy  of  their 
assailants.  No  more  fortunate  event  could  have  occurred 
at  the  time,  than  this  successful  extermination  of  a  dan- 
gerous foe. 

The  lesson  this  battle  taught  the  Bannacks  has  never 
been  forgotten.  The  instance  of  an  attack  by  other  bands 
upon  the  emigrants  has  never  been  known  since  that  day. 
It  so  reduced  their  tribe  in  number  that  they  have  ever 
since  been  a  broken  and  dispirited  people.  They  are  the 
vagrants  of  the  mountains,  as  remarkable  for  their  pusil- 
lanimity, as,  in  the  days  of  Bonneville,  they  were  for  their 
bravery,  and  the  commanding  position  they  held  among 
the   mountain   tribes. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  killed  and  wounded  in  the 
fight: 

Second  Cavalry,  Company  A 

Killed. —  Privates,  James  W.   Baldwin,  George  German. 

Wounded. —  Lieut.  D.  J.  Berry;  Privates,  John  W.  Wall, 
James  S.  Montgomery,  John  Welsh,  William  H.  Lake,  Wil- 
ham  Jay. 

Frozen. —  Corporal  Adolph  Spraggle;  Privates,  John  D. 
Marker,  J.  Kearney,  Samuel  L'Hommidieu,  R.  McNulty, 
G.  Swan. 

Company  H 

Killed. —  Privates,  John  K.  Briggs,  Charles  L.  Hallowell. 

Wounded. —  Capt.  Daniel  McLean,  Sergeant  James  Can- 
tillon;*  Corporals,  Philip  Schaub  and  Patrick  Frauley;  Pri- 
vates, Michael  O'Brien,*  H.  L.  Fisher,  John  Franklin,  Hugh 
Connor,  Joseph  Clows,  Thomson  Ridge,  James  Logan,  Bar- 
tele  C.  Hutchinson,  Frank  Farley.* 

Frozen. —  Sixteen  names  not  obtained. 

Company  K 
Killed. —  Privates,  Lewis  Anderson,  Christian  Smith,  Shel- 
bourne  C.  Reed,  Adolphus  Rowe,  Henry  W.  Trempf. 
•  Died  of  wounds. 


204   VIGILANTE  DAYS  xVXD  WAYS 

Wounded. —  Lieut.  Darwin  Chase,*  Sergeant  Sylvanus  S. 
Longley,  Corporal  Benjamin  Landis ;  Privates,  William  Slo- 
cum,*  Albert  X.  Parker,  John  S.  Lee,  Walter  B.  Welton, 
Nath'l  Kinsky.  Patrick  H.  Kelly,  Eugene  J.  Brady,  Silas 
C.  Bush,  John  Daly,  Robert  Hargrave,  Morris  Illig,  Alonzo 
A.  P.  V.  McCoy. 

Frozen. —  Sergeant  Wm.  L.  Beach ;  Corporals,  Wm.  L. 
White  and  James  R.  Hunt;  Privates,  Stragder  Ausby,  ^L•^t- 
thew  Almone,  David  Bristow,  Fred  W.  Becker,  Natli'l  Chap- 
man, Sam'l  Caldwell,  Joseph  Chapman,  John  G.  Hertle, 
Chas.  B.  Howe,  Joseph  Hill,  George  Johnston,  JeflFerson  Lin- 
coln, Arthur  Mitchell,  James  McKown,  Alonzo  R.  Palmer, 
Charles  Wilson. 

Company  M 

Killed. —  Wagoner,  Asa  V.  Howard  ;  Privates,  Geo.  C.  Cox, 
Geo.  W.   Hoton,  Wm.  Davis. 

Wounded. —  Sergeants,  Anthony  Stevens*  and  Lorin  Rob- 
bins,  Corporal  L.  W.  Hughes;  Privates,  W.  H.  Wood,  I>.  D. 
Hughes,  J.  Legget,  E.  C.  Chase,  F.  Barcafer,  R.  Miller, 
M.   Forbes,  John   Stevens,  P.  Humbert ;   Bugler,  A.   Hoffner. 

Frozen. —  Sergeant  John  Cullen ;  Corporals,  A.  P.  Hewitt 
and  Wm.  Steel;  Privates.  W.  W.  Collins,  James  Dyer,  John 
McGonagle,  A.  G.  Case. 

Third  Infantry,  Company  K 

Killed.—  Privates,  John  E.   Baker,  Samuel   W.    Thomas. 

Wounded. —  Major  P.  A.  Gallagher;  Sergeants,  A.  J.  Aus 
tin    and    E.   C.    Hoyt ;    Privates,   John    Hensley,    Thomas 
Walker. 

Frozen. —  Sergeants,    C.    J.    Herron    and    C.  F.  Williams 
Corporals,  Wm.  Bennett,  John  Lattmnn,  and  John  Wingate 
Privates,    Joseph    German,    James   L'rquhart,  Wm.    St.    Job 
Algeray    Ramsdcll.  J.uncs  E)i))erson,  A.   J.  T.   Randall,  Wm. 
Farnham,  John    Haurland,  Giles   Ticknor,  Alfred    Pensho,  B. 

B.  Bigelow,  J.  Anderson,  F.  Bacralso,  F.  Branch,  A.  L.  Bai- 
ley, Wm.  Carlton,  D.   Donaluie,  C.  H.  Godbold.  .T.  Haywood,  , 

C.  Heath,  ,T.   Manning,  Wm.  W.ay. 
•  Died  of  wounds. 


IS- 

1 


BATTLE  OF  BEAR  RIVER 


205 


RKGIMENT 

2nd  Cavalry,  Co.  A 
2nd  Cavalry,  Co.  H 
2nd  Cavalry,  Co.  K 
2nd  Cavalry,  Co.  M 
Srd  Infantry,  Co.  K 


Recapitulation 

lUiLED  WOUNDED  FROZEN  TOTAL 


6 

11 

15 

13 

5 


6 
16 
19 

7 
27 


14 
32 
39 
24 
34 


Total 


15 


53 


75   143 


CHAPTER   XXII 
ALDER  GULCH 

IX  May,  1863,  a  company  of  miners,  while  returning 
from  an  unsuccessful  exploring  expedition,  discov- 
ered the  remarkable  placer  afterwards  known  as  Alder 
Gulch.  They  gave  the  name  of  one  of  their  number, 
Fairweather,  to  the  district.  Several  of  the  company 
went  immediately  to  Bannack,  communicated  the  intelli- 
gence, and  returned  with  supplies  to  their  friends.  The 
eftect  of  the  news  was  electrical.  Hundreds  started  at 
once  to  the  new  placer,  each  striving  to  outstrip  the  other, 
in  order  to  secure  a  claim.  In  the  hurry  of  departure, 
among  many  minor  accidents,  a  man  whose  body,  partially 
concealed  by  the  willows,  was  mistaken  for  a  beaver,  was 
shot  by  a  Mr.  Arnold.  Discovering  the  fatal  mistake, 
Arnold  gave  up  the  chase  and  bestowed  his  entire  atten- 
tion upon  the  unfortunate  victim  until  his  death,  a  few 
days  afterwards.  The  great  stampede  with  its  numerous 
pack-animals,  penetrated  the  dense  alder  thicket  which 
filled  the  gulch,  a  distance  of  eight  miles,  to  the  site  se- 
lected for  building  a  town.  An  accidental  fire  occurring, 
swept  away  the  alders  for  the  entire  distance  in  a  single 
night.  In  less  than  a  week  from  the  date  of  the  first  ar- 
rival, hundreds  of  tents,  brush  wakiups,  and  rude  log 
cabins,  extemporized  for  innnediate  occupancy,  were  scat- 
tered at  random  over  the  spot,  now  for  the  first  time  trod- 
den by  white  men.  For  a  distance  of  twelve  miles  from 
the  mouth  of  the  gulch  to  its  source  in  Bald  Mountain,, 
claims   were   staked   and   occupied  by    the   men    fortunate 

206 


ALDER  GULCH  207 

enough  first  to  assert  an  ownership.  Laws  were  adopted, 
judges  selected,  and  the  new  community  was  busy  in  up- 
heaving, sluicing,  drifting,  and  cradling  the  inexhaustible 
bed  of  auriferous  gravel,  which  has  yielded  under  these 
various  manipulations  a  greater  amount  of  gold  than  any 
other  placer  on  the  continent. 

The  Southern  sympathizers  of  the  Territory  gave  the 
name  of  A'arina  to  the  new  town  which  had  sprung  up  in 
Alder  Gulch,  in  honor  of  the  wife  of  President  Jefferson 
Davis.  Dr.  Bissell,  one  of  the  miners'  judges  of  the  gulch, 
was  an  ardent  Unionist.  Being  called  upon  to  draw  up 
some  papers  before  the  new  name  had  been  generally 
adopted,  and  requested  to  date  them  at  "  Varina  City," 
he  declared,  with  a  very  emphatic  expletive,  he  would  not 
do  it,  and  wrote  the  name  "  Virginia  City,"  —  by  which 
name  the  place  has  ever  since  been  known. 

The  road  agents  were  among  the  first  to  follow  in  the 
track  of  the  miners.  Prominent  among  them  were  Cyrus 
Skinner,  Jack  Gallagher,  Buck  Stinson,  and  Ned  Ray, — 
the  last  three  as  deputies  of  Plummer  in  the  sheriffalty. 
Ripe  for  the  commission  of  any  deed,  however  atrocious, 
which  gave  the  promise  of  plunder,  jackal-like  they 
watched  the  gathering  crowd  and  its  various  industries, 
marking  each  and  all  for  early  and  unceasing  depreda- 
tion. 

The  Hon.  Washington  Stapleton  who  had  been  at  work 
in  the  Bannack  mines  from  the  time  of  their  discovery,  a 
miner  named  Dodge,  and  another  man,  each  supposed 
to  possess  a  considerable  amount  of  gold,  having  deter- 
mined to  go  to  Virginia  City,  Dodge  was  privately  in- 
formed by  Dillingham,  one  of  Plummer's  deputies,  on  the 
eve  of  their  intended  departure,  that  Buck  Stinson,  Hayes 
Lyons,  and  Charley  Forbes  had  laid  plans  for  robbing 
them  on  the  way,  and  had  requested  him  (Dillingham)  to 
join  them  in  the  robbery.     When  the  time  for  their  going 


208   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

came,  Dodge  expressed  his  fear  of  an  attack,  and  an- 
nounced his  (leterniination  to  remain.  His  friends  rallied 
him,  until,  smarting  under  their  taunts,  he  revealed  the  in- 
formation given  by  Dillingham,  Stinson,  Lyons,  and 
Forbes  heard  of  it,  and  determined  to  kill  the  informer. 
Stapleton  left  his  companions,  and  started  for  Virginia 
City  alone.  At  Rattlesnake  he  encountered  Hayes  Lyons, 
who  rode  up  and  asked  him  if  he  had  heard  of  the  robbery 
which  Dillingham  alleged  had  been  planned  against  him. 
Stapleton  replied  in  the  negative;  but  when  telling  the 
story  since,  says  that  he  has  felt  more  comfortable  even 
when  sleeping  in  church,  than  when  he  saw  that  scoundrel 
approaching  him.  He  told  him,  he  says,  that  this  was  the 
first  he  had  heard  of  it,  adding,  "  If  you  want  my  money, 
I  have  only  one  hundred  dollars  in  greenbacks.  You  had 
better  take  that,  and  let  me  go." 

liyons  replied  with  an  oath  that  the  story  was  a  lie, 
and  that  he  was  then  on  his  way  to  kill  Dillingham  for 
putting  such  a  story  in  circulation,  but  he  feared  Dilling- 
ham had  heard  of  his  intention  and  left  the  country. 

Stapleton  accomplished  his  trip  without  molestation. 
Lyons  and  Forbes  rode  on  to  Virginia  City,  also,  and  find- 
ing Dillingham  there,  they,  in  company  with  Stinson,  met 
the  next  day  and  arranged  for  his  assassination. 

A  miners'  court  for  the  trial  of  a  civil  case  was  in  ses- 
sion the  following  morning  near  the  bank  of  the  creek 
fronting  the  town.  To  the  observation  of  a  person  un- 
accustomed to  the  makeshifts  and  customs  of  a  minin 
community,  the  picture  presented  by  this  court  of  justice 
would  have  exhibited  many  amusing  features  —  not  the 
least  of  which  was  the  place  wherein  it  was  held.  The 
Temple  of  Justice  was  a  wakiup  of  brush  and  twigs,  gath- 
ered from  the  different  coppices  of  willow  and  alder  grow- 
ing upon  the  banks  of  the  creek,  thrown  togctlier  in  coni- 
cal form,  and  of  barely  sufficient  capacity  to  accommodate 


i, 


ALDER  GULCH  209 

the  judge,  clerk,  parties,  and  jurors.  Spectators  were 
indebted  to  the  interstices  in  this  primitive  structure  for 
a  view  of  the  proceedings;  and  as  no  part  of  the  person 
except  the  eyes  was  visible  to  those  within,  the  appear- 
ance of  those  visual  orbs  bore  no  inapt  comparison  to  a 
constellation  in  a  brush  heap. 

Dr.  Steele,  president  of  the  gulch,  acted  as  judge.  He 
united  with  much  native  good  sense,  great  modesty  of  de- 
meanor. He  was  not  a  lawyer.  On  his  trip  from  the 
States,  while  crossing  the  plains,  an  unfriendly  gust  had 
swept  his  only  hat  beyond  recovery,  and  he  came  into 
Montana  with  his  brows  bound  in  a  parti-colored  cotton 
handkerchief,  which,  for  want  of  something  more  appro- 
priate, not  obtainable  at  the  stores,  he  had  worn  until 
some  friendly  miner  possessing  an  extra  hat  presented  him 
with  it.  Proving  too  small  to  incase  his  intellectual  or- 
gans, the  doctor  had,  by  a  series  of  indented  slits  en- 
circling the  rim,  increased  its  elasticity,  so  that,  saving 
a  succession  of  gaps,  through  which  his  hair  bristled  "  like 
quills  upon  the  fretful  porcupine,"  it  answered  the  pur- 
pose of  its  creation.  With  this  upon  his  head  he  sat  upon 
the  bench,  an  embodiment  of  the  dignity,  law,  and  learn- 
ing of  this  little  mountain  judiciary. 

In  the  progress  of  the  trial,  the  defendant's  counsel 
asked  for  a  nonsuit,  on  account  of  some  informality  of 
service. 

"A  what?  "  inquired  the  judge  with  a  puzzled  expres- 
sion, as  if  he  had  not  rightly  understood  the  word. 

"  A  nonsuit,"  was  the  rejoinder. 

"  What  's  a  —  "  The  question  partly  asked,  was  left 
incomplete.  The  judge  blushed,  but  reflecting  that  he 
would  probably  learn  the  office  of  a  nonsuit  in  the  course 
of  the  argument,  he  broke  through  the  dilemma  by  ask- 
ing. 

"  Upon  what  ground  ?  " 


210  VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

The  argument   followed,  and  the  judge,  soon  compre- 
hending tlic   meaning  of   a   nonsuit,    decided   that   unless 
the  defendant  could  show  that  he  had  suffered  by  reason  , 
of  the  informal  service,  the  case  must  proceed.     Some  of  I 
tlie  friends  of  the  magistrate,  seated  near  the  door,  under- 
standing  the   cause   of   his    embarrassment,   enjoyed   the 
scene  hugely,  and  as  it  presented  an  opportunity'  for  re- 
turning in  kind  some  of  the  numerous  jokes  which  he  had  J 
played  at  their  expense,  one  of  them,  thinking  it  too  good  ■ 
to  be  lost,  with  much  mock  sobriety  of  manner  and  tone, 
arose  and  said, 

"  Most  righteous  decision  !  " 

All  eyes  were  turned  upon  the  speaker,  but  before  they 
could  comprehend  the  joke  at  the  bottom,  another  arose, 
and  with  equal  solemnity,  exclaimed, 

"  INIost  just  judge!  " 

Dr.  Steele,  though  embarrassed  by  this  ill-timed  jocu- 
larity, was  so  well  satisfied  with  his  sagacity  in  finding  out 
what  a  nonsuit  meant,  without  betraying  his  legal  un- 
learnedness,  that  the  joke  was  taken  in  good  part,  and 
formed  a  subject  of  frequent  merriment  in  after  times. 

Charley  Forbes  was  the  clerk  of  the  court,  and  sat  be- 
side the  judge  taking  notes  of  the  trial.  After  the  de- 
cision denying  the  motion,  the  plaintiff  passed  around  a 
bottle  of  licjuor,  of  which  the  court  and  jury  partook. 
Not  to  be  outdone,  the  defendant  circulated  a  box  of 
cigars.  And  it  was  while  the  spectators  were  giving  ex- 
pression in  various  forms  to  their  approval  of  the  de- 
cision, that  Stinson  and  Lyons  came  into  the  court,  and 
proceeding  to  the  seat  occupied  by  Forbes,  engaged  with 
him  in  a  whispered  conversation  inaudible  to  the  bystand- 
ers. After  a  ftw  moments,  Forbes  suddenly  rose  in  his 
place,  and,  with  an  oath,  exclaimed, 

"  Well,  we  '11  kill  tlu-  scoundrel  then,  at  once,"  and  ac- 
companied  Stinson   and  I.3'ons  out   of  tlie  wakiup.      The 


ALDER  GULCH  211 

audience,  startled  by  the  announcement,  hurriedly  fol- 
lowed. Dillingham  had  come  over  from  Bannack  in  his 
capacity  as  deputy  sheriff,  to  look  for  some  stolen  horses. 
He  had  come  on  the  ground  a  moment  before,  in  search 
of  Mr.  Todd,  the  deputy  at  Virginia  City,  for  assistance. 

An  assemblage  of  a  hinidred  or  more  miners  and  others 
was  congregated  in  and  about  the  place  where  the  court 
was  in  progress, —  some  intent  upon  the  trial,  others  saun- 
tering through  the  crowd  and  along  the  bank  of  Alder 
Creek.  The  three  ruffians,  after  a  moment's  conversation, 
approached  in  company  the  spot  where  Dillingham  stood. 

"  We  want  to  see  you,"  said  Lj'ons,  addressing  him. 
"  Step  this  way  a  moment." 

Stinson  advanced  a  few  paces,  and  looking  over  his 
shoulder  said  to  his  companions, 

"  Bring  him  along.     JMake  him  come." 

Dillingham  waited  for  no  second  invitation.  Evidently 
supposing  that  they  had  some  matter  of  business  to  com- 
municate, he  accompanied  them  to  an  open  spot  not  more 
than  ten  paces  distant.  There  they  all  stopped,  and  fac- 
ing Dillingham,  with  a  muttered  curse  Lyons  said  to 
him, 

"  Take  back  those  lies,"  when  with  the  quickness  of 
thought,  they  drew  their  revolvers, —  Charley  Forbes  at 
the  same  time  exclaiming,  "  Don't  shoot,  don't  shoot," — 
and  fired  upon  him  simultaneously.  The  groan  which 
Lyons'  ball  drew  from  the  poor  victim  as  it  entered  his 
thigh,  was  hushed  by  the  bullet  of  Forbes,  as  it  passed 
through  his  breast,  inflicting  a  mortal  wound.  He  fell, 
and  died  in  a  few  moments.  Jack  Gallagher,  who  was  in  the 
plot,  rushed  up,  and  in  his  capacity  as  a  deputy  sheriff, 
seized  the  pistols  of  the  three  ruffians,  one  of  which,  while 
unobserved,  he  reloaded,  intending  thereby  to  prevent  the 
identification  of  the  villain  who  fired  the  fatal  shot. 

The  deed  was  committed  so  quickly  that  the  bystand- 


212   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

ers  hardly  knew  what  had  happened  till  they  saw  Dilling- 
ham stretched  upon  the  ground  in  the  death  agony.  The 
court  broke  up  instantly,  and  the  jury  dispersed.  Aghast 
at  the  bloody  spectacle,  for  some  moments  the  people  sur- 
veyed it  in  speechless  amazement.  The  ruffians  meanwhile 
sauntered  quietly  away,  chuckling  at  their  own  adroit- 
ness. They  had  not  gone  far,  until  several  of  the  miners, 
by  direction  of  Dr.  Steele,  arrested  them.  The  reaction 
from  terror  to  reason  was  marked  by  the  adoption  of 
vigorous  measures  for  the  punishment  of  the  crime,  and 
but  for  the  calm  self-possession  of  a  few  individuals,  the 
murderers  would  have  been  summarily  dealt  with.  An 
officer  elected  by  the  people,  with  a  detail  of  miners,  took 
them  into  custody,  and  having  confined  them  in  a  log  build- 
ing, preparations  were  made  for  their  immediate  trial. 

Here  again,  as  at  the  trial  of  Moore  and  Reeves,  the 
difficulty  of  a  choice  between  a  trial  by  the  people,  and 
by  a  jury  of  twelve,  occasioned  an  obstinate  and  violent 
discussion.  The  reasons  for  the  latter,  though  strongly 
urged,  were  finally  overcome  by  the  paramount  considera- 
tion that  the  selection  of  a  jury  would  devolve  upon  a 
deputy  sheriff  who  was  in  league  with  the  prisoners,  and, 
as  it  was  afterwards  ascertained,  an  accomplice  in  the 
crime  for  which  they  were  arrested. 

The  people  assembled  en  masse  upon  the  very  spot  where 
the  murder  had  been  committed.  Dr.  Steele,  by  virtue  of 
his  office  as  president  of  the  gulch,  was  appointed  judge, 
and  at  his  request  Dr.  Bissell,  the  district  judge,  and  Dr. 
Rutar,  associates,  to  aid  with  their  counsel  in  the  decisions 
of  such  questions  as  should  arise  in  the  progress  of  the 
trial.  E.  R.  Cutler,  a  blacksmith,  and  James  Brown  |l| 
acted  as  public  prosecutors,  and  II.  P.  A.  Smith,  a  law^'er 
of  ability,  appeared  on  behalf  of  the  prisoners. 

A  separate  trial  was  assigned  to  Forbes,  because  the 
pistol    which    Gallagher     had     privately     reloaded,    was 


ALDER  GULCH  213 

claimed  by  him,  a  fact  of  which  he  wished  to  avail  him- 
self. In  fact,  however,  the  pistol  belonged  to  Stinson.  It 
was  mid-day  when  the  trial  of  Lyons  and  Stinson  com- 
menced. At  dark  it  was  not  concluded,  and  the  prisoners 
were  put  under  a  strong  guard  for  the  night.  They  were 
confined  in  a  small,  half-roofed,  unchinked  cabin,  over- 
looking Daylight  Creek,  which  ran  through  a  hollow  filled 
with  willows.  Dr.  Six  and  Major  Brookie  had  charge 
of  the  prisoners.  Soon  after  dark  their  attention  was 
attracted  by  the  repeated  shrill  note  of  a  night-hawk,  ap- 
parently proceeding  from  the  willows.  After  each  note, 
Forbes  commenced  singing.  This  being  noticed  by  the 
guard,  on  closer  investigation  they  discovered  that  the  note 
was  simulated  by  some  person  as  a  signal  for  the  pris- 
oners. They  immediately  ordered  Forbes  to  stop  singing. 
He  refused.  They  then  proposed  to  chain  the  prisoners, 
they  objecting,  and  Forbes  remarking, 

"  I  will  suffer  death  before  you  shall  do  it." 

He  receded,  however,  under  the  persuasion  of  six  shot- 
guns drawn  upon  a  line  with  his  head,  and  in  a  subdued 
tone,  said, 

♦'  Chain  me." 

During  the  night  Lyons  sent  for  one  of  the  citizens, 
who,  under  cover  of  the  guns  of  the  guard,  approached 
and  asked  him  what  he  wanted. 

"  I  want  you,"  said  he,  "  to  release  Stinson  and  Forbes. 
I  killed  Dillingham.  I  came  here  for  that  express  pur- 
pose. They  are  innocent.  I  was  sent  here  by  the  best 
men  in  Bannack  to  kill  him." 

*'  Who  sent  you  ?  "  inquired  the  citizen. 

After  naming  several  of  the  best  citizens  of  Bannack, 
who  knew  nothing  of  the  murder  until  several  days  after 
it  was  committed,  he  added, 

*'  Henry  Plummer  told  me  to  shoot  him."  It  was  after- 
wards proven  that  this  was  true. 


1 


214   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AXD  WAYS 

Hayes  Lyons  was  greatly  unnerved,  and  cried  a  great 
part  of  the  night ;  but  Buck  Stinson  was  wholly  uncon- 
cerned, and  slept  soundly. 

The  trial  was  resumed  the  next  morning.  At  noon,  the 
arguments  being  concluded,  the  question  of  "  guilty  or  not 
guilty,"  was  submitted  to  the  people,  and  decided  almost 
unanimously  in  the  affirmative. 

"What  shall  be  their  punishment?"  asked  the  presi- 
dent of  the  now  eager  crowd. 

"  Hang  them,"  was  the  united  response. 

Men  were  immediately  appointed  to  erect  a  scaffold, 
and  dig  the  graves  of  the  doomed  criminals,  who  were  taken 
into  custody  to  await  the  result  of  the  trial  of  Forbes. 
This  followed  immediately ;  and  the  loaded  pistol,  and  the 
fact  that  when  the  onslaught  was  made  upon  Dillingham, 
he  called  out,  "  Don't  shoot,  don't  shoot,"  were  used  in 
evidence  with  good  effect.  When  the  question  was  finally 
put,  Forbes,  who  was  a  young  man  of  fine  personal  ap- 
pearance, and  possessed  of  good  powers  as  a  speaker,  made 
a  personal  appeal  to  the  crowd,  which  so  wrought  upon 
their  sympathies,  and  was  so  eloquent  withal,  that  they 
acquitted  him  b^'  a  large  majority.  In  marked  contrast 
with  the  spirit  which  thc>'  had  exhibited  a  few  hours  before 
while  condemning  Stinson  and  Lyons  to  a  violent  death, 
the  people,  upon  the  acquittal  of  Forbes,  crowded  around 
him  with  shouts  and  laughter,  eager  to  shake  hands  with 
and  congratulate  him  upon  his  escape.  Months  after- 
wards, when  the  excitement  of  the  occasion,  with  the  mem- 
ory of  it,  has  passed  from  men's  minds,  Charley  Forbes 
was  heard  vauntingly  to  say  that  he  was  the  slayer  of 
Dillingham.  He  was  known  to  deride  the  tender  suscepti- 
bilities of  the  people,  who  gave  him  liberty  to  renew  his 
desperate  career,  and  chuckle  over  the  exercise  of  powers 
of  person  and  mind  that  could  make  so  many  believe  even 
Truth  herself  to  l)e  a  liar.      Among  the  villains  belonging 


ALDER  GULCH  215 

to  IMuninicr's  band,  not  one,  not  oven  Plunmier  him- 
self, possessed  a  more  depraved  nature  than  Forbes;  and 
with  it,  few,  if  any,  were  gifted  with  as  many  shining  ae- 
complishments.  He  was  a  prince  of  cut-throats,  uniting 
with  the  coohiess  of  Augustus  Tomlinson  all  the  adap- 
tability of  Paul  Clifford.  On  one  occasion  he  said  to  a 
gentleman  about  to  leave  the  Territory, 

"  You  will  be  attacked  on  your  way  to  Salt  Lake  City." 

"  You  can't  do  it,  Charley,"  was  the  reply.  "  Your 
boys  are  scattered,  we  are  together,  and  will  prove  too 
many  for  you."  Nevertheless,  the  party  drove  sixty  miles 
the  first  day  out,  and  thus  escaped  molestation. 

His  early  life  was  passed  in  Grass  Valley,  California. 
While  comparatively  a  j^outh,  he  was  convicted  of  rob- 
bery. On  the  expiration  of  his  sentence,  he  visited  his 
old  friends,  and  on  his  promise  of  reformation,  they  ob- 
tained employment  for  him  in  McLaughlin's  gas  works. 
For  a  while  his  conduct  was  unexceptionable,  and  he  was 
rapidly  regaining  the  esteem  of  all ;  but  in  an  evil  hour 
he  indulged  in  a  game  of  poker  for  money.  From  that 
moment  he  j^ielded  to  this  temptation,  until  it  became  a 
besetting  vice.  Not  long  after  he  entered  upon  this  career, 
he  provoked  a  quarrel  with  one  "  Dutch  John,"  who  threat- 
ened to  kill  him. 

Forbes  told  McLaughlin,  saying  in  conclusion,  "  When 
Dutch  John  sa3's  so,  he  means  it." 

"  Take  my  revolver  out  of  the  case,"  said  McLaughlin, 
"  put  it  in  your  breast-pocket,  and  defend  yourself  as  oc- 
casion may  require." 

Forbes  obeyed.  Soon  after,  as  he  was  passing  along 
with  a  ladder  on  his  shoulder,  an  acquaintance  said  to 
him, 

"  Dutch  John  is  looking  for  you  to  kill  you." 

"  So  I  hear,"  replied  Forbes.  "  He  '11  find  me  sooner 
than  he  wants  to." 


21G   VIGILANTE  DAYS  x\ND  WAYS 

A  few  rods  farther  on  he  saw  John  coming  from  the 
Magnolia  saloon,  where  he  had  been  looking  for  Forbes. 
Forbes  sprang  towards  him,  exclaiming  with  an  oath, 

"  Here  I  am,"  and  immediately  fired  four  shots  at  him. 
John  fired  once  in  return,  and  throwing  up  his  hands  in 
affright  at  the  rapid  firing  of  Forbes,  ejaculated, 

"O  mein  GottL     Will  I  be  murdered.?" 

A  bystander  who  had  witnessed  the  meeting,  and  saw  that 
John,  who  had  expected  an  easy  victory,  was  paralyzed 
with  fear,  called  to  him, 

"Turn  your  artillery  loose!" 

Forbes  was  tried  for  this  crime,  and  acquitted.  He  was 
afterwards  convicted  of  crime  of  some  kind  in  Carson  City, 
and  imprisoned.  On  New  Year's  day  he  succeeded  in  re- 
moving his  handcuffs,  broke  jail,  and  went  to  the  sheriff's 
house,  as  he  said  upon  entering,  "  to  make  a  New  Year's 
call."  The  officer  returned  him  to  prison.  From  this 
time,  his  career  of  crime  knew  no  impediment. 

On  his  first  arrival  in  the  mountains  he  corresponded  for 
some  of  the  California  and  Nevada  papers.  His  letters 
were  highly  interesting.  His  true  name  was  Edward 
Richardson. 

To  return  to  Stinson  and  Lyons.  After  "the  demonstra- 
tions of  joy  at  Forbes's  escape  had  subsided,  the  people 
remembered  that  there  was  an  execution  on  the  tapis. 
Drawing  up  a  wagon  in  front  of  the  building  where  the 
criminals  were  confined,  they  ordered  them  to  get  in.  They 
obeyed,  followed  by  several  of  their  friends,  who  took  seats 
beside  them.  Lyons  became  almost  uproarious  in  his  ap- 
peals for  mercy.  The  women,  of  whom  there  were  many, 
began  to  cry,  begging  earnestly  for  the  lives  of  the  crim- 
inals. Smith,  their  lawyer,  joined  his  petitions  to  those  of  S 
the  women,  and  the  entire  crowd  began  to  give  way  under* 
this  pressure  of  sympathy.  Meantime  the  wagon  was 
drawn  slowly  towards  the  place  of  execution.     When  the 


ALDER  GULCH  217 

excitement  was  at  its  highest  pitch,  a  man  demanded  in  a 
loud  tone  that  the  people  should  listen  to  a  letter  which 
Lyons  had  written  to  his  mother.  This  document,  which 
had  been  prepared  by  some  person  for  the  occasion,  was 
now  read.  It  was  filled  with  expressions  of  love  for  the 
aged  mother,  regret  for  the  crime,  repentance,  acknowl- 
edgments of  misspent  life,  and  strong  promises  of  amend- 
ment, if  only  life  could  be  spared  a  little  longer.  Every 
sentence  elicited  fresh  grief  from  the  women,  who  now  be- 
came perfectly  clamorous  in  their  calls  for  mercy  to  the 
prisoners.  After  the  letter  was  read,  some  one  cried  out, 
in  derision, 

"  Give  him  a  horse,  and  let  him  go  to  his  mother." 

Another  immediately  moved  that  they  take  a  vote  upon 
that  proposition.  Sheriff  Todd,  whose  duty  it  was  only 
to  carry  out  the  sentence  of  the  court,  consented  to  this, 
and  the  question  was  submitted  to  ayes  and  noes.  Both 
parties  claimed  the  victory.  It  was  then  agreed  that  those 
in  favor  of  hanging  should  go  up,  and  those  opposed,  down 
the  side  of  a  neighboring  hill.  Neither  party  being  sat- 
isfied, as  a  final  test,  four  men  were  selected,  and  those 
who  wished  the  sentence  enforced  were  to  pass  between  two 
of  them,  and  those  who  opposed,  between  the  other  two. 
The  votes  for  liberty  were  increased  to  meet  the  occasion, 
by  a  second  passage  of  as  many  as  were  necessary  to  carry 
the  question.  An  Irish  miner,  while  the  voting  was  in 
progress,  exclaimed  in  a  loud  voice,  as  a  negro  passed 
through  the  acquittal  bureau, 

"  Bedad,  there 's  a  bloody  nagur  that 's  voted  three 
times." 

But  this  vote,  dishonest  as  it  was,  settled  the  question ; 
for  Jack  Gallagher,  pistol  in  hand,  shouted, 

"  Let  them  go.     They  're  cleared." 

This  was  a  signal  for  a  general  uproar,  and  amid  shouts 
from  both  parties,  expressive  of  the  opinions  which  each 


218  VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

entertained,  sonic  one  mounted  the  assassins  upon  a  horse 
stjuidiiifj  near,  whicli  belonged  to  a  Blackfoot  .squaw,  and 
cutting  the  hiriat,  started  them  ott"  at  a  gaUop  down  the 
gulch.  At  this  moment  one  of  the  guard  pointed  to  the 
gallows,  and  said  to  another, 

"  There  stands  a  monument  of  disappointed  justice." 

Immediately  after  sentence  of  death  had  been  passed 
upon  Stinson  and  Lyons,  Dr.  Steele  returned  to  his  cabin, 
two  miles  down  the  gulch.  The  result  of  the  trial  had  fur- 
nished him  with  food  for  sad  reflection, —  especially  as  the 
duty  of  passing  the  death  sentence  had  devolved  upon  him. 
Other  considerations  followed  in  quick  succession.  He  has 
since,  when  speaking  of  it,  said  that  he  never  indulged  in 
a  more  melancholy  reverie,  than  while  returning  home  from 
this  trial.  The  youth  of  the  convicts ;  their  evident  fit- 
ness, both  by  culture  and  manners,  for  any  sphere  of  ac- 
tive business;  the  effect  that  their  execution  must  have 
upon  distant  parents  and  friends, —  all  these  thoughts  pre- 
sented themselves  in  sad  array  before  his  mental  vision ; 
when,  as  he  was  about  entering  his  cabin,  a  quick  clatter 
of  hoofs  roused  him,  and  turning  to  see  the  cause,  he  be- 
held the  subjects  of  his  gloomy  reflections  both  mounted 
upon  the  Indian  pony,  approaching  at  the  animal's  swift- 
est pace.  He  had  hardly  time  to  recover  from  his  sur- 
prise, and  realize  that  the  object  was  not  a  vision,  until 
the  animal  with  its  double  rider  passed  him, —  and  Lyons, 
nodding  familiarly,  waved  his  hand,  accompanying  the 
gesture  with  the  parting  words, 

"  Good-bye,  Doc." 

The  body  of  the  unfortunate  Dillingham  lay  neglected 
upon  a  gambling  table  in  a  tent  near  by,  until  this  wretched 
travesty  was  completed.  Then  a  wagon  was  obtained,  and, 
followed  by  a  small  procession,  it  was  hurriedly  buried. 
The  tears  had  all  been  slied  for  the  murderers. 

*'  I  cried  for  Dillingham,"  said  one,  on  being  told  that 


ALDER  GULCH  219 

his  wife  and  daughters  had  expended  their  grief  upon  the 
wrong  persons. 

"  Oh,  you  did,"  was  the  reply.  "  Well  thought  of. 
Who  will  pray  for  him.?     Will  you  do  it,  judge.'*  " 

Judge  BisscU  responded  by  kneeling  upon  the  spot  and 
offering  up  an  appropriate  pra^'er,  as  the  body  of  the  un- 
fortunate young  man  was  consigned  to  its  mother  earth. 

Soon  after  the  murder  of  Dillingham,  Charley  Forbes 
suddenly  disappeared.  No  one  knew  what  became  of  him, 
but  it  was  supposed  that  he  had  fallen  a  victim  to  the  ven- 
geance of  his  comrades  for  the  course  he  had  taken  in  se- 
curing for  himself  a  separate  trial.  This  supposition  was 
afterwards  confirmed  by  some  of  the  robbers  themselves, 
who  stated  that  in  a  quarrel  with  Moore  at  the  Big  Hole 
River,  Forbes  was  killed.  Fearing  that  the  friends  of  the 
murdered  ruffian  would  retaliate,  Moore  killed  Forbes's 
horse  at  the  same  time,  and  burned  to  ashes  the  bodies  of 
horse  and  rider.  This  fact  was  known  to  Plummer  only, 
at  the  time  of  its  occurrence. 

Dillingham  was  a  straightforward,  honest  young  man, 
and  his  office  as  deputy  sheriff  was  given  him  under  the 
supposition  that  he  would  readily  affiliate  with  the  roughs. 
Lyons,  Stinson,  and  Forbes,  who  were  also  deputies,  sup- 
posed him  to  be  as  bad  as  they  were. 

On  my  trip  east  in  1863,  the  Overland  coach  in  which 
I  had  taken  passage  was  detained  a  night  by  snow  at 
Hook's  Station  in  Nebraska.  Ascertaining  that  I  was 
from  Bannack,  a  young  man  at  the  station  asked  me  many 
questions  about  Hayes  Lyons,  telling  me  that  he  had 
heard  that  he  narrowly  escaped  hanging  the  previous 
summer.  I  narrated  to  him  the  circumstances  attending 
the  murder  of  Dillingham  and  the  trial. 

"  He  is  my  brother,"  said  the  young  man,  and  invited 
me  to  go  with  him  and  see  his  mother  and  sister.  I  learned 
that  Hayes  had  been  well  brought  up,  but  was  the  victim 


220   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

of  evil  associations.  His  mother  wept  while  deploring  his 
criminal  career,  which  she  ascribed  to  bad  company. 

Later  in  the  winter  I  received  a  letter  from  the  father 
of  Dillingham,  who  resided  at  North  Orange,  New  Jersey, 
inquiring  after  his  son.  I  replied,  giving  the  particulars 
of  his  son's  death,  and  the  trial  and  escape  of  his  murderers, 
and  of  my  subsequent  meeting  with  the  mother  of  Lyons. 
In  the  meantime,  Lyons  had  been  hanged. 

The  father  was  almost  heartbroken  at  the  intelligence 
of  his  son's  death,  but  in  his  letter,  written  in  a  kindly  and 
Christian  spirit,  he  says: 

"  While  the  shocking  details  of  the  sad  narrative  are  inex- 
pressibly distressing  to  us,  it  is  a  great  alleviation  to  our* 
grief  to  know  that  an  act  of  manly  virtue  and  honor  was  the 
superinducing  cause  that  excited  our  son's  murderers  in  their 
bloody  purpose.  Death  under  such  circumstances,  so  far  as 
it  relates  to  tlie  poor  sufferer  himself,  is  praiseworthy  in  the 
highest  degree,  and  inspires  us  with  thankfulness  to  God  for 
our  son's  integrity,  and  with  humble  trust  that  it  may  be 
overruled  in  infinite  wisdom  for  our  good;  and  is  certainly  a 
thousand  times  to  be  preferred  by  the  afflicted  survivors,  to  a 
knowledge  of,  compliance  with,  and  successful  prosecution  of, 
the  infamous  scheme  proposed.  Our  hearts  truly  and  deeply 
sympathize  with  the  sorrowing  mother  and  family  of  tlie 
criminal  young  Lyons.  Truly,  indeed,  may  it  be  said  that 
only  God  can  assuage  the  poignancy  of  such  sorrow  as  must'^ 
fill  their  bosoms.     May  He  sustain  and  comfort  them. 

"  It  is  satisfactory  to  know  that  summary  measures  were 
finally,  and  in  a  good  measure  effectually,  adopted  by  your 
citizens,  for  ridding  their  interesting  region  of  country  of  these 
worse  than  savages.  Retributive  justice  is  almost  invariably 
sure,  sooner  or  later,  to  overtake  all  such  heaven-daring  out- 
laws.    ... 

"  Very  sincerely  yours, 
"  W.  S.  Dillingham." 


CHAPTER  XXIII 
VIRGINIA  CITY 

NO  longer  in  fear  of  attack  by  the  Indians,  immigrants 
had  been  steadily  pouring  into  the  Territory  over 
the  Salt  Lake  route  during  the  month  of  June.  Many 
came  also  over  the  mountains  from  Salmon  River.  The 
opportune  discovery  of  Alder  Gulch  relieved  Bannack  of  a 
large  and  increasing  population  of  unemployed  gold- 
hunters,  who,  lured  by  the  overdrawn  reports  of  local  rich- 
ness, had  exhausted  all  their  means  in  a  long  and  perilous 
journey,  to  meet  only  disappointment  and  disaster  at  its 
close.  Almost  simultaneously  with  the  settlement  at  Vir- 
ginia City,  other  settlements  lower  down  and  farther  up 
the  gulch  were  commenced.  Those  below  were  known  by 
the  respective  names  of  Junction,  Nevada,  and  Central; 
those  above.  Pine  Grove,  Highland,  and  Summit.  As  the 
entire  gulch  for  a  distance  of  twelve  miles  was  appro- 
priated, the  intervals  of  two  or  three  miles  between  the 
several  nuclei  were  occupied  by  the  cabins  of  miners,  who 
owned  and  were  developing  the  claims  opposite  to  them,  so 
that  in  less  than  three  months  after  the  discovery,  the  gulch 
was  really  one  entire  settlement.  One  long  stream  of  active 
life  filled  the  little  creek,  on  its  auriferous  course  from  Bald 
Mountain,  through  a  canon  of  wild  and  picturesque  char- 
acter, until  it  emerged  into  the  large  and  fertile  valley 
of  the  Pas-sam-a-ri.  Pas-sam-a-ri  is  the  Shoshone  word 
for  "  Stinking  Water,"  and  the  latter  is  the  name  com- 
monly given  in  Montana  to  the  beautiful  mountain  stream 
which  was  called  by  Lewis  and  Clark,  in  their  journal, 

221 


222   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

"  Philanthropy  River."  Lateral  streams  of  great  beauty 
pour  down  the  sides  of  the  mountain  chain  bounding  the 
valley,  across  which  they  run  to  their  union  with  the  Pas- 
sam-a-ri,  which,  twtnt}'  miles  beyond,  unites  with  the 
Beaverhead,  one  of  the  forming  streams  of  the  Jefferson. 
Gold  placers  were  found  upon  these  streams,  and  occupied 
soon  after  the  settlement  at  Virginia  City  was  commenced. 
One  of  these,  at  Bivin's  Gulch,  in  the  mountains  twelve 
miles  from  Virginia  City,  though  limited  in  extent,  was  suf- 
ficiently productive  to  afford  profitable  employment  to  a 
little  community  of  twenty  or  more  miners.  Twenty  miles 
below  Virginia  City  on  the  route  to  Bannack,  a  man  by 
the  name  of  Dempscy  located  a  ranche,  and  built  a  large 
cabin  for  the  accommodation  of  travellers.  Seven  miles 
above,  and  between  that  and  ^  irginia  City,  another  similar 
building  for  like  purposes  was  owned  by  Peter  Daly,  and 
three  miles  above  Daly's  was  another  owned  by  Mr.  Lor- 
rain.  These  establishments  arc  only  important  as  they 
serve  to  locate  occurrences  connected  with  this  history. 

Of  the  settlements  in  Alder  Gulch,  Virginia  City  was  the 
principal,  though  Nevada,  two  miles  below,  at  one  time 
was  of  nearly  equal  size  and  population.  A  stranger  fronif 
the  Eastern  States  entering  the  gulch  for  the  first  time,  two 
or  three  months  after  its  discovery,  would  be  inspired  by 
the  scene  and  its  associations  with  reflections  of  the  most 
strange  and  novel  character.  This  human  hive,  number- 
ing at  least  ten  thousand  people,  was  the  product  of  ninety 
days.  Into  it  were  crowded  all  the  elements  of  a  rough 
and  active  clvlli/ation.  Thousands  of  cabins  and  tents 
and  brush  wakiups,  thrown  together  in  the  roughest  form, 
and  scattered  at  random  along  the  banks,  and  in  the  nooks 
of  the  hills,  were  seen  on  every  hand.  Kvery  foot  of  the 
gulch,  under  the  active  manipulations  of  the  nn'ners,  was 
undergoing  displacement,  and  it  was  already  disfigured 
by  Inige  heaps  of  gravil,  which  had  been  ]iassed  through 


VIRGINIA  CITY  223 

the  sluices,  and  rifled  of  tlieir  glittering  contents.  In  the 
gulch  itself  all  was  activity.  Some  were  removing  the 
superincumbent  earth  to  reach  the  pay-dirt,  others  who 
had  accomplished  that  were  gathering  up  the  clay  and 
gravel  upon  the  surface  of  the  bed-rock,  while  by  others 
still  it  was  thrown  into  the  sluice  boxes.  This  exhibition 
of  mining  industry  was  twelve  miles  long.  Gold  was  abun- 
diijt,  and  every  possible  device  was  employed  by  the  gam- 
blers, the  traders,  the  vile  men  and  women  that  had  come 
with  the  miners  to  the  locality,  to  obtain  it.  Nearly  every 
third  cabin  in  the  towns  was  a  saloon  where  vile  whiskey 
was  peddled  out  for  fifty  cents  a  drink  in  gold  dust.  Many 
of  these  places  were  filled  with  gambling  tables  and 
gamblers,  and  the  miner  who  was  bold  enough  to  enter  one 
of  them  with  his  day's  earnings  in  his  pocket,  seldom  left 
until  thoroughly  fleeced.  Hurdy-gurdy  dance-houses  were 
numerous,  and  there  were  plenty  of  camp  beauties  to 
patronize  them.  There  too,  the  successful  miner,  lured  by 
siren  smiles,  after  an  evening  spent  in  dancing  and  carous- 
ing at  his  expense,  steeped  with  liquor,  would  empty  his 
purse  into  the  lap  of  his  charmer  for  an  hour  of  license 
in  her  arms.  Not  a  day  or  night  passed  which  did  not 
yield  its  full  fruition  of  fights,  quarrels,  wounds,  or  mur- 
ders. The  crack  of  the  revolver  was  often  heard  above  the 
merry  notes  of  the  violin.  Street  fights  were  frequent,  and 
as  no  one  knew  when  or  where  they  would  occur,  every  one 
was  on  his  guard  against  a  random  shot. 

Sunday  was  always  a  gala  day.  The  miners  then  left 
their  work  and  gathered  about  the  public  places  in  the 
to^\^ls.  The  stores  were  all  open,  the  auctioneers  specially 
eloquent  on  every  comer  in  praise  of  their  wares.  Thou- 
sands of  people  crowded  the  thoroughfares,  ready  to  rush 
in  any  direction  of  promised  excitement.  Horse-racing 
was  among  the  most  favored  amusements.  Prize  rings  were 
formed,  and  brawny  men  engaged  at  fisticuff's  until  their 


224   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

sight  was  lost  and  their  bodies  pommelled  to  a  jelly,  while 
hundreds  of  on-lookers  cheered  the  victor.  Hacks  rattled 
to  and  fro  between  the  several  towns,  freighted  with 
drunken  and  rowdy  humanity  of  both  sexes.  Citizens  of 
acknowledged  respectability  often  walked,  more  often  per- 
haps rode  side  by  side  on  horseback,  with  noted  courtesans 
in  open  day  through  the  crowded  streets,  and  seemingly 
suffered  no  harm  in  reputation.  Pistols  flashed,  bope- 
knives  flourished,  and  braggart  oaths  filled  the  air,  as 
often  as  men's  passions  triumphed  over  their  reason.  This 
was  indeed  the  reign  of  unbridled  license,  and  men  who  at 
first  regarded  it  with  disgust  and  terror,  by  constant  ex- 
posure soon  learned  to  become  part  of  it,  and  forget  that 
they  had  ever  been  aught  else.  All  classes  of  society  were 
represented  at  this  general  exhibition.  Judges,  lawyers, 
doctors,  even  clergymen,  could  not  claim  exemption.  Cul- 
ture and  religion  afforded  feeble  protection,  where  allure- 
ment and  indulgence  ruled  the  hour. 

Underneath  this  exterior  of  recklessness,  there  was  in 
the  minds  and  hearts  of  the  miners  and  business  men  of  this 
society,  a  strong  and  abiding  sense  of  justice, —  and  that 
saved  the  Territory.  While  they  could  enjoy  what  they 
called  sport  even  to  the  very  borders  of  crime,  and  indulge 
in  many  practices  which  in  themselves  were  criminal,  yet 
when  any  one  was  murdered,  robbed,  abused,  or  hurt,  a 
feeling  of  resentment,  a  desire  for  retaliation,  animated 
all.  With  the  ingathering  of  new  men,  fear  of  the  rougiis 
gradually  wore  away, —  but  the  desire  to  escape  responsi- 
bility, to  acquire  something  and  leave  in  peace,  prevented 
any  active  measures  for  protection;  and  so  far  as  organ- 
ization was  concerned,  the  law  and  order  citizens,  though 
in  the  majority,  were  as  much  at  sea  as  ever. 

Previous  to  the  organization  of  the  Territory  of  Idaho 
on  the  third  of  March,  1863,  all  of  that  which  is  now 
Montana    west    of   the    Rocky    Mountains,    was    part    of 


( 


VIRGINIA  CITY  225 

Washington  Territory,  with  Olympia  on  Pugot  Sound  as 
capital.  All  east  thereof  belonged  to  Dakota,  the  capital 
of  which  was  Yankton  on  the  INIissouri,  which  by  the  near- 
est available  route  of  travel,  was  two  thousand  two  hun- 
dred miles  distant.  The  existence  of  Bannack  was  not 
known  there  at  that  time,  to  say  nothing  of  the  impos- 
sibility of  executing  any  Territorial  laws,  at  such  arm's- 
length,  even  if  it  had  been.  Our  legal  condition  was  not 
greatl}'  improved  by  the  organization  of  the  new  Territory 
of  Idaho.  Lewiston,  the  capital,  was  seven  hundred  miles 
awa}',  on  the  western  side  of  the  mountains.  Eighteen 
months  had  passed  since  we  became  part  of  that  Territory, 
before  we  received  an  authentic  copy  of  the  Territorial 
Statutes,  and  when  they  came  we  had  been  half  a  year  in 
Montana. 

In  August,  1863,  D.  S.  Payne,  the  United  States  Mar- 
shal of  Idaho,  came  over  from  Lewiston  to  Bannack  to  dis- 
trict the  eastern  portion  of  the  Territory  and  effect  a 
party  organization  of  the  Republicans.  Our  people  felt 
little  interest  in  the  measure.  Some  of  the  leading  citizens 
had  requested,  some  time  before,  that  I  should  make  appli- 
cation in  person  for  them,  at  the  next  session  of  Congress, 
for  a  new  Territorial  organization,  east  of  the  Coeur 
D'Alene  Mountains.  Payne  was  urgent  for  a  representa- 
tion of  this  part  of  the  Territory  in  the  Legislative  Coun- 
cil, and  as  an  inducement  for  me  to  consent  to  the  use  of 
my  name  as  a  candidate,  offered  to  appoint  any  person 
whom  I  might  name  to  the  office  of  Deputy  United  States 
Marshal  in  the  cast  side  district. 

A  Union  League  had  been  for  some  time  in  existence  in 
Bannack,  of  which  I  was  President.  I  asked  the  advice 
of  the  members  in  making  the  appointment,  first  caution- 
ing them  to  ballot  secretly,  as  by  that  means  those  who 
otherwise  would  not  support  Plummer,  who  was  known  to 
be  a  candidate,  would  escape  detection  by  him.     Neither 


226   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

Mr.  Rhecni,  the  Vice-President  of  the  League,  nor  nij'sclf, 
voted.  The  votes  cast,  about  thirty  in  number,  were  unan- 
imous for  IMummcr.  Some  one  informed  him  of  it.  He  ex- 
pressed his  gratification  at  the  result,  and  told  me  that 
the  confidence  of  the  League  in  him  should  never  be  be- 
trayed. I  immediately  informed  him  that  he  must  not 
expect  the  appointment.  He  gave  this  reply  a  favorable  in- 
terpretation, and  even  after  it  was  repeated,  turned  upon 
his  heel,  laughing,  and  saying  as  he  went, 

"  It 's  all  right,  Langford.  That 's  the  way  to  talk  it 
to  outsiders." 

Soon  after  this,  in  a  conversation  with  Mr.  Samuel  T. 
Hauser,  I  informed  him  of  the  recommendation  of  the 
League.     Hauser  replied, 

"  Whoever  lives  to  see  the  gang  of  highwaymen  now  in- 
festing the  country  broken  up,  will  find  that  Henry  Plum- 
mcr  is  at  the  head  of  it." 

Amazed  at  the  expression  of  an  opinion  so  much  stronger 
than  my  own,  I  at  once  decided  to  reject  the  advice  of  the 
League,  rather  than  Incur  the  responsibility  of  recommend- 
ing so  dangerous  a  person  for  the  office.  Plummer  heard 
of  it,  and  lost  no  time  in  asking  an  explanation,  affecting 
to  believe  that  I  had  promised  to  recommend  him.  \\'r 
sat  down  upon  an  ox-shoeing  frame,  and  talked  over  the 
whole  matter.  He  had  his  pistol  in  his  belt.  I  was  un- 
armed. He  said  many  provoking  things,  and  used  many 
oaths  and  epithets,  in  his  attempt  to  provoke  a  quarrel, 
but  all  to  no  purpose.  Finding  tliat  no  excuse  would  be 
given  him  for  a  resort  to  violence,  he  arose,  and  as  we 
parted,  said, 

"  Langford,  you  '11  be  sorry  for  this  before  the  matter 
ends.  I  've  always  been  your  friend,  but  from  this  time 
on,  I'm  your  enemy;  ajul  when  I  say  this,  I  mean  it  in 
more  ways  than  one." 

These  were  the  closing  words  of  our  last  conversation. 
We  met  afterwards,  but  never  spoke. 


VIRGINIA  CITY  227 

During  that  full  I  was  engaged  in  purchasing  lumber 
at  Bannack  to  sell  at  Virginia  City,  where  no  sawmills  had 
yet  been  put  in  operation.  -  The  business  required  frequent 
trips  between  the  two  places ;  and  the  ride  of  seventy  miles 
through  a  lonely  country,  whose  surface  alternated  with 
canons,  ravines,  foothills,  and  mountains,  afforded  such 
ample  opportunity  for  secret  robbery  and  murder,  that  it 
required  considerable  ingenuity  to  throw  the  villains  off 
the  track.  With  the  threat  of  Plummer  hanging  over  me 
to  be  executed  upon  the  first  favorable  opportunity,  my 
position  was  by  no  means  an  enviable  one.  I  would  send 
forward  the  loaded  teams,  which  were  four  days  on  the  trip, 
and  on  the  morning  of  the  fourth  would  follow ,  mounted  on 
a  good  horse,  and  arrive  in  Virginia  City  the  same  even- 
ing. On  my  arrival  my  horse  was  immediately  put  in 
charge  of  a  rancher,  or  person  who  made  the  care  of  horses 
a  specialty.  He  would  send  it  with  a  herd  to  a  convenient 
grass  range,  where  it  would  feed  in  the  care  of  herders 
night  and  day  until  wanted.  Then  it  was  brought  into 
town  and  delivered  at  the  office  of  the  rancher.  The  order 
for  a  horse  was  given  the  night  before  it  w^as  wanted,  in 
order  to  have  the  animal  ready  the  following  morning. 

George  Ives,  who  turned  out  to  be  one  of  the  most  des- 
perate of  the  gang  of  robbers,  was  the  rancher's  clerk  at 
Virginia  City.  Whenever  application  was  made  for  a 
horse,  unless  the  applicant  was  on  his  guard,  Ives  could, 
by  a  careless  inquiry,  learn  his  destination.  By  communi- 
cating this  to  his  confederates,  they  could  pursue  and 
rob,  or  kill  the  rider  without  delay  or  suspicion.  To  es- 
cape this  system  of  espionage  it  was  my  custom,  when 
ready  to  leave  for  Bannack  or  elsewhere,  to  send  an  order 
by  a  friend  to  the  rancher  or  Ives,  requesting  him  to  let  the 
bearer  have  the  horse  to  go  to  some  point  w^hich  I  desig- 
nated, in  an  opposite  direction  from  my  actual  destina- 
tion.    The  friend  would  receive  and  mount  the  horse,  and 


228  VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

ride  out  of  town,  beyond  observation,  where  I  would  meet 
liim  and  go  on  my  way.  Thirty  journeys  of  this  kind  were 
safely  made  between  Virginia  City  and  Bannack  during 
the  fall,  none,  however,  without  the  precaution  of  carrying 
a  pair  of  revolvers  in  my  cantinas,  and  a  double-barrelled 
gun  across  my  saddle. 

During  a  brief  stay  in  Omaha  several  years  ago,  I  met 
with  Dr.  Leavitt,  who  was  a  resident  of  Bannack  while 
Plummer  dwelt  there.  He  related  the  following  incident, 
which  is  repeated  here,  for  the  insight  it  affords  of  Pluni- 
mer's  malignancy. 

"  One  night  in  October,  1863,"  said  the  doctor,  "  I  was 
walking  along  the  roadway  of  Main  Street  in  Bannack. 
The  moon,  obscured  by  clouds,  shed  a  dim  light,  by  which 
I  could  see  for  a  few  yards  quite  distinctly.  As  I  passed 
your  boarding-house,  my  attention  was  attracted  by  a 
noise  at  my  left.  I  stopped,  and  on  close  observation  saw 
a  dark  object  under  the  window.  My  curiosity  was  ex- 
cited to  know  what  it  could  be.  Judge  of  my  surprise  on 
approaching  it  to  behold  a  man  with  a  revolver  in  his  hand, 
on  his  knees  at  the  window,  peering  into  the  room  through 
a  space  of  less  than  an  inch  between  the  curtain  and  the 
window  casing.  I  watched  him  unobserved  for  some  sec- 
onds. Disturbed  by  my  approach,  he  sprang  to  his  feet 
and  dai-ted  around  the  corner  of  the  building  —  but  not 
so  rapidly  as  to  escape  recognition. 

"  '  Why,  Plummer,'  I  exclaimed,  '  what  in  the  world  are 
you  doing  there?  * 

"  Seeing  that  he  was  known,  he  came  forward,  laughing, 
and  replied, 

"  '  I  was  trying  to  plav  a  joke  on  my  friend  Langford. 
He  and  Gillette  board  here,  and  I  heard  their  voices.' 

"  I  was  puzzled  to  conceive  what  sort  of  a  joke  he  was 
playing  with  a  loaded  revolver,  but  thought  I  had  better 
not  be  too  curious  to  ascertain.     Plummer  accompanied  me 


( 


VIRGINIA  CITY  229 

home.  He  said  that  you  and  he  were  great  friends ;  that 
you  had  done  him  many  favors,  and  there  was  no  person 
in  the  world  he  esteemed  more  highly.  I  thought  nothing 
more  of  the  matter,  until  I  heard  that  Plummer  had  threat- 
ened your  life  for  refusing  to  recommend  his  appointment 
as  Deputy  United  States  INIarshal.  I  had  no  doubt  then, 
and  have  none  now,  that  he  was  trying  to  get  a  sight 
through  the  window  for  the  purpose  of  shooting  you. 
Your  departure  for  Salt  Lake  City  a  day  or  two  after  I 
heard  of  your  difficulty  with  him  prevented  me  from  in- 
forming you  of  it  at  the  time." 

Miners  and  others  who  had  worked  out  or  sold  their 
claims,  were  almost  daily  leaving  the  country.  Often  it 
was  known  that  they  took  with  them  large  amounts  of  gold 
dust.  Various  were  the  devices  for  its  concealment.  On 
one  occasion  a  small  company  contrived  to  escape  plunder 
by  packing  their  long,  slim  buckskin  purses  into  an  auger 
hole,  bored  in  the  end  of  their  wagon  tongue,  and  closing 
it  so  as  to  escape  observation.  Others,  less  fortunate, 
lost,  not  their  money  only,  but  their  lives,  in  some  of  the 
desolate  canons  on  the  long  route  to  Salt  Lake.  Many 
left  who  were  never  afterwards  heard  of,  and  whose  friends 
in  the  States  wrote  letters  of  inquiry  to  the  Territory 
concerning  them,  years  after  they  had  gone.  Whenever 
a  robbery  was  contemplated  which  the  freebooters  supposed 
would  be  attended  with  unusual  risk  to  themselves,  Plum- 
mer's  presence  was  required  to  conduct  it.  Knowing  that 
his  absence  would  excite  suspicion,  he  arranged  that  for 
such  occasions,  he  should  be  sent  for,  as  an  expert,  to  ex- 
amine a  silver  lode.  But  few  discoveries  had  at  this  time 
been  made  of  this  mineral,  and  Plummer's  Nevada  expe- 
rience was  thought  to  qualify  him  for  determining  its  value 
with  considerable  accuracy.  A  rough-looking  prospector, 
dressed  for  the  purpose,  would  ride  into  town,  exhibit  his 
specimens,  and  urge  Plummer,  who  feigned  reluctance,  to 


230   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

go  witli  him  and  examine  his  discovery,  promising  him  u 
claim  us  an  inducement.  Often  would  unsuspecting  citizens 
offer  to  aid  Plunnner  in  any  work  he  might  then  have  on 
hand  to  enable  him  to  go  out,  and,  under  pretence  of  ex- 
amining a  silver  lode,  superintend  the  commission  of  a 
daring  robbery.  Sometimes  this  same  object  was  accom- 
plished by  trumping  up  a  charge  against  some  imaginary 
delin({uent,  and  obtaining  a  warrant  for  his  arrest  from 
the  miners'  judge,  which  Plummer,  as  sheriff,  rode  away 
to  execute. 

The  following  is  one  instance  of  Plummer's  method  of 
obtaining  recruits.  He  called  upon  Neil  Howie  in  the 
Fall  of  1863,  whom  he  found  hard  at  work  mining,  but 
barely  earning  a  subsistence. 

"  Neil,"  said  he,  "  this  is  a  hard  way  to  get  a  living." 

"  I  know  it,"  replied  Howie. 

"  I  can  tell  you  of  an  easier  way." 

"  I  'd  like  to  know  it." 

"  There  are  plenty  of  men  making  money  in  this  coun- 
try," said  Plummer,  "  and  we  are  entitled  to  a  share  of  it." 

Doubtful  as  to  his  meaning,  or  whether  he  understood 
him  aright,  Howie  regarded  Plummer  with  a  puzzled  ex- 
pression, making  no  reply. 

"  Come  with  me,"  said  Plummer,  "  and  30U  'II  have  all 
you  want." 

"  You  've  picked  up  the  wrong  man,"  replied  Howie. 

"  All  right,"  said  Plummer  coolly.  '*  I  suppose  you  know 
enough  to  keep  your  mouth  shut." 

Howie  remembered  the  fate  of  Dillingham,  and  heeded 
the  admonition. 

The  placer  at  Alder  Gulch  was  immensely  prolific.  Prob- 
ably its  yield  in  gold  dust  was  not  less  than  ten  millions 
of  dollars  before  the  close  of  the  first  3'ear's  work  upon 
it.  Money  was  abundant.  Merchants  and  bankers  were 
obliged  to  exercise  great  ingenuity  and  caution  in  keeping 


VIRGINIA  CITY  231 

it,  US  there  were  no  regular  means  for  sending  it  out  of 
the  country.  The  only  stage  route  was  between  Hannack 
and  Virginia  City, —  and  a  stretch  of  unsettled  country, 
four  hundred  and  seventy-five  miles  in  width,  lay  between 
the  latter  place  and  Salt  Lake  City.  There  was  no  post- 
office  in  the  Territory.  Letters  were  brought  from  Salt 
Lake  City  to  Virginia  City,  first  at  a  cost  of  two  dollars 
and  a  half  each,  and  later  in  the  season  at  one  dollar  each. 
All  money,  at  infinite  risk,  was  sent  to  the  nearest  express 
office  at  Salt  Lake  City  by  private  hands.  In  order  to 
gain  intelligence  of  these  occasional  consignments,  Plum- 
mer  induced  some  of  the  leading  merchants  to  employ 
members  of  his  gang.  When  this  could  not  be  effected, 
they  were  occupied  so  near  and  on  such  familiar  terms,  that 
they  could  observe  without  suspicion  all  business  opera- 
tions, and  give  him  early  notice  of  the  transmission  of 
treasure. 

Dance  and  Stuart  commenced  business  in  Virginia  City 
in  the  Fall  of  1863,  with  a  large  stock  of  goods.  George 
Lane,  better  known  as  "  Clubfoot  George,"  whose  history 
in  the  Salmon  River  mines  I  have  already  given,  came  to 
them  with  a  pitiful  story  of  his  misfortunes,  and  asked 
for  a  place  in  their  store  for  his  shoemaker's  bench. 
Though  cramped  for  their  own  accommodation,  they  made 
room  for  him.  He  commenced  work,  meantime  watching 
all  their  business  operations,  for  the  purpose  of  reporting 
when  and  by  whom  they  sent  money  to  their  Eastern 
creditors. 


CHAPTER  XXIV 

COACH  ROBBERIES 

THE  placer  at  Alder  Gulch  was  so  extensive,  so  easy 
of  development,  and  so  prolific,  that  many  of  the 
miners  who  commenced  work  upon  it  in  the  early  days  of 
its  discovery,  fortunate  in  their  acquisitions,  and  disgusted 
with  their  associations,  were  ready  to  return  to  the  States 
in  the  fall.  Failing  in  this,  they  knew  that  the}'  would  be 
doomed  to  a  long  winter  of  idleness,  exposed  to  the  priva- 
tions incident  to  a  new  and  isolated  region,  and  to  the 
depredations  of  a  large  and  increasing  criminal  population. 
The  hegira,  at  first  small,  increased  in  numbers,  so  that 
b}'  the  first  of  November  it  could  be  numbered  by  hundreds, 
who  were  on  their  return  to  their  old  homes.  Many  — 
perhaps  the  greater  portion  —  of  those  wayfarers  travelled 
in  the  conveyances  which  brought  them  to  the  country; 
others  on  horseback ;  and  a  large  number  leaving  Vir- 
ginia City  on  one  of  the  two  lines  of  coaches  for  Bannack, 
trusted  to  chance  for  an  opportunity  to  continue  the  jour- 
ney beyond  that  place.  How  many  of  these  persons  fell 
victims  to  the  road  agents,  on  their  long  and  perilous 
journey,  it  is  impossible  to  tell;  but  the  inquiries  of  rela- 
tives and  friends  for  hundreds  of  them  for  months  and 
even  years  after  their  departure,  leave  no  chance  for  doubt 
that  the  villains  drove  a  bloody  and  prosperous  business. 
Several  of  their  most  daring  exploits  occurred  on  the 
route  between  Virginia  City  and  Bannack,  a  region  admir- 
ably adapted  to  their  purposes.  Its  frequent  streams, 
canons,    mountain   passes,    rocky   ledges,   willow    thickets, 

232 

f 


COACH  ROBBERIES  233 

and  deep  embosomed  valleys,  afforded  ample  means  of  con- 
cealment, and  advantages  for  attack  upon  passing  trains, 
with  very  few  chances  for  defence  or  escape.  The  robbers 
had  their  established  points  of  rendezvous  on  the  road,  and 
worked  in  concert  by  a  system  of  horseback  telegraphy,  as 
unfailing  as  electricity.  Whenever  it  was  known  that  a 
person  with  money  was  about  to  leave  by  coach,  a  private 
mark  was  made  upon  the  vehicle,  which  would  be  recog- 
nized wherever  seen,  at  Daly's,  Baker's,  Dempsey's,  or 
Bunton's,  the  several  ranches  where  the  coach  horses  were 
changed.  Bunton,  who  kept  the  Rattlesnake  ranche,  was 
the  same  villain  who  was  associated  with  Plummer  in  the 
shebangs  near  Walla  Walla,  of  which  an  account  has  al- 
ready been  given. 

When  the  approach  of  the  coach  was  perceived  at  either 
of  these  changing  stations,  the  herder  in  charge  mounted 
his  horse,  and  rode  hurriedly  off  to  drive  up  the  horses 
for  the  next  route,  which  were  generally  feeding  in  sight 
of  the  station.  Sometimes  they  strayed  off,  and  the  coach 
would  be  delayed  until  they  were  found,  but  this  was  of 
infrequent  occurrence.  Precisely  the  same  system  was  fol- 
lowed here  as  upon  the  plains  in  the  days  of  the  overland 
mail  stages. 

The  horses  in  use  when  not  of  the  cayuse  breed,  were 
bronchos,  or  wild  horses  from  California,  neither  in  qual- 
ity nor  breed  suited  for  the  service,  unreliable,  and  easily 
broken  down.  They  were  driven  very  rapidly,  and  when 
their  speed  gave  out  were  turned  loose  as  no  longer  fit  for 
use.  As  a  consequence  it  was  one  of  the  chief  difficulties 
of  a  stage  proprietor  to  secure  horses  which  would  insure 
the  punctuality  of  his  trips.  The  trip  between  Virginia 
City  and  Bannack  was  ordinarily  completed  between  the 
rising  and  setting  of  the  sun. 

Among  the  miners  earliest  to  arrive  and  stake  a  claim 
in  Alder  Gulch,  was  an  Irishman  by  the  name  of  Daniel 


234   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

McF.iddcn,  who  soon  bccumc  familiarized  to  the  sobriquet 
of  "  Bummer  Dun."  Why  he  was  thus  designated  was 
never  known,  but  it  may  be  presumed  that  he  early  devel- 
oped some  peculiarities,  which,  in  the  opinion  of  the 
people,  justified  it.  lie  was  fortunate  in  securing  one  of 
the  richest  claims  in  the  gulch,  and,  making  good  use  of 
his  time,  had  saved  two  thousand  dollars  or  more  in  dust 
by  the  middle  of  October.  Having  sold  his  claim,  with 
this  gold  in  his  possession,  he  made  preparations  for  a 
journey  to  Bannack.  Securing  it  in  buckskin  purses,  he 
put  them  in  a  larger  bag,  and  by  means  of  a  strap  across 
the  shoulder,  and  a  belt,  contrived  to  conceal  the  treasure 
under  his  clothing,  and  carry  it  very  conveniently.  One 
raw,  gusty  day,  toward  the  close  of  the  month,  he  left  Vir- 
ginia City  on  foot,  and  walked  down  the  valley  to  Uemp- 
sey's  ranche,  on  the  Stinking  Water,  where  he  waited  the 
arrival  of  Peabody  &  Caldwell's  coach  on  its  way  to 
Bannack. 

Owing  to  the  sickness  of  the  driver,  William  Ilumsey 
was  pressed  into  service  for  the  trip,  and  the  coach  left 
\'irginia  City  at  the  usual  hour  in  the  morning,  with 
Messrs.  Madison,  Percy,  and  W^ilkinson,  as  passengers. 
One  of  the  heavy  snowstorms  peculiar  to  this  season  and 
latitude  set  in  soon  after  the  coach  was  under  way,  and 
continued  during  the  drive  of  the  first  ten  miles,  rendering 
their  progress  slow  and  cumbersome.  At  Baker's  ranche 
the  passengers  were  obliged  to  wait  until  the  herder,  who 
had  been  housed  during  the  storm,  could  drive  up  the 
horses.  He  returned  after  an  hour's  search  with  an  indif- 
ferent team,  which  was  driven  on  a  run  to  Dempsey's 
ranche,  to  recover  the  time  lost  by  the  dela}'.  Here  "  Bum- 
mer Dan  "  took  passage,  and  the  same  speed  was  main- 
tained to  "  Point  of  Hocks,"  the  locality  known  in  Lewis 
and  Clark's  travels  as  Beaver  Head  Rock.  The  wearied 
horses  gave  place  here  to  a  fresher  team,  which  continued  i* 


COACH  ROBBERIES  235 

on  a  keen  run  to  Bunton's  ranchc  on  the  Rattlesnake.  It 
was  now  sunset,  and  yet  twelve  miles  to  Bannack.  The 
herder  who  had  brougiit  up  the  horses  for  the  change  at 
the  usual  hour,  finding  that  the  coach  did  not  arrive  on 
time,  had,  under  Bunton's  orders,  turned  them  out  again, 
an  hour  before.  Bunton  pretended  that  he  did  not  ex- 
pect the  coach.  The  herder  was  sent  out  immediately  after 
the  horses,  and  returned  at  dark  with  the  report  that  he 
could  not  find  them.  Rumsey  then  requested  "  Little 
Frank,"  a  jNIexican  boy  in  whom  he  had  confidence,  to  go 
in  search  of  the  horses.  He,  too,  soon  returned  with  the 
report  that  they  could  not  be  found.  This  "  Little  Frank," 
a  few  weeks  afterwards,  told  Rumsey  that  the  horses  were 
near  at  the  time,  but  that  before  he  started  to  look  for 
them,  Bunton  told  him  that  if  he  did  not  report  them  to 
be  missing  he  would  kill  him. 

A  night  with  Bill  Bunton  was  unavoidable,  and  the  pas- 
sengers at  once  determined  to  "  make  a  night  of  it."  Bun- 
ton entered  into  the  spirit  of  the  occasion  with  them. 
Whiskey  was  provided.  They  drank  themselves  hilarious, 
sang,  related  adventures,  and  caroused  until  daylight ; 
but,  to  Bunton's  disappointment,  without  becoming  intox- 
icated, and  never  forgetting,  meantime,  their  exposure  to 
robber}',  or  the  convenience  of  a  revolver  in  the  belt. 

At  daylight  two  herders  were  sent  for  the  horses.  One 
returned  at  eight  o'clock,  with  the  report  that  they  could 
not  be  found.  An  hour  afterwards  the  other  brought  in 
the  same  horses  that  came  with  the  coach  the  previous  even- 
ing. "  Necessity  knows  no  law,"  and  so  with  a  pair  of 
these  for  leaders,  and  two  worn-out  wheelers,  the  coach 
was  soon  declared  ready  for  a  start.  Just  at  this  time, 
Oliver's  coach  from  Bannack  drove  up,  en  route  for  Vir- 
•t^inia  City,  and  fresh  drinks  were  called  for.  In  the  mean- 
time a  rough  by  the  name  of  Bob  Zachary,  who  was  going 
to  Bannack  with  a  couple  of  horses,  insisted  that  Wilkin- 


230   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

son  should  bear  him  company  and  ride  one  of  them.  They 
departed  on  a  canter  in  advance  of  the  coach,  and  were 
soon  out  of  sight.  Bunton,  wlio  had  been  distributing  liq- 
uor among  the  passengers  of  the  coaches,  and  trying  to 
make  himself  generally  agreeable,  came  out  with  the  bot- 
tle and  a  tumbler  to  give  Rumsey  a  drink. 

"  Wait  a  few  minutes,  Billy,"  said  he,  "  and  I  will  ride 
to  Bannack  with  you.  These  passengers  will  be  gone  in 
a  moment." 

"  Get  up  on  the  box  with  me,"  replied  Rumsey.  "  These 
old  '  plugs  '  at  the  wheel  will  need  pretty  constant  whip- 
ping, and  my  exercise  in  that  line  yesterday  has  lamed  my 
arm." 

"  I  'm  a  good  whipper,"  Bunton  responded,  laughing, 
"  and  if  there  's  any  '  go  '  in  them,  I  can  bring  it  out. 
They  're  a  pair  of  '  played  out '  wheelers  that  had  been 
turned  out  to  rest,  and  I  think  we  '11  fail  to  get  them  be- 
yond a  walk, —  but  we  '11  give  them  a  try." 

The  weather  was  cold  and  blustering.  The  curtains  of 
the  coach  were  fastened  down.  Percy,  Madison,  and  * 
"  Bummer  Dan  "  got  in,  and  Bunton  mounted  the  box  be- 
side Rumsey.  The  horses  began  to  weaken  before  they 
reached  the  crossing  of  the  creek,  less  than  a  mile  away. 
There  the  road  entered  the  gulch.  Bunton,  who  had  suc- 
ceeded, as  he  intended,  in  tiring  the  horses,  surrendered 
the  whip  to  Rumsey  and  got  inside  the  coach.  He  knew 
what  was  coming.  Rumsey  whipped  up  the  wheelers,  but 
could  not  urge  them  into  any  faster  gait.  Cursing  his 
"  slow  poke  of  a  team,"  his  eye  caught  the  figures  of  two 
horsemen  entering  the  gulch  from  a  dry  ravine  a  few  rods 
in  front  of  the  coach.  They  were  wrapped  in  blankets, 
with  hoods  over  their  heads,  and  armed  with  shotguns.  It' 
flaslu'd  upon  him  that  they  were  robbers. 

"  Look  !  boys,  look  !  "  he  shouted.  "  See  what  *s  coming.f 
Get  out  your  arms.     The  road  agents  are  upon  us." 


COACH  ROBBERIES  237 

The  C3'cs  of  every  man  in  tlie  coach  were  peering  through 
the  loopholes  at  the  approaching  bandits.  Madison,  the 
first  to  discover  them,  was  searching  for  his  pistol,  when 
the  robbers  rode  up,  and  in  broken  Irish,  and  assumed 
tones,  with  their  guns  aimed  at  the  coach,  yelled, 

"  Up  with  your  hands,  every  one  of  you." 

This  formula,  always  used,  was  generally  concluded 
with  an  abusive  epithet.  Bill  Bunton,  who  had  a  part  to 
enact,  threw  up  his  hands  and  in  an  imploring  voice,  ex- 
claimed, 

"  For  God's  sake,  don't  kill  me.  You  are  welcome  to  all 
my  money, —  only  spare  my  life." 

The  other  inmates  raised  their  arms  as  commanded. 

"  Get  out,"  shouted  the  robbers,  "  and  hold  up  your 
hands.     We  '11  shoot  every  man  who  puts  his  down." 

The  passengers  descended  hurriedly  to  the  ground  and 
stood  with  their  arms  upraised,  awaiting  further  orders. 
Turning  to  Rumsey,  who  remained  on  the  box  holding  the 
reins,  the  robbers  ordered  him  to  get  down,  and  remove 
the  arms  from  the  passengers. 

Not  easily  frightened,  and  anxious  to  escape  a  service 
so  distasteful,  Rumsey  replied, 

"  You  must  be  fools  to  think  I  'm  going  to  get  down  and 
let  this  team  run  away.  You  don't  want  the  team.  It  can 
do  you  no  good." 

"  Get  down,"  said  the  robber  spokesman  with  an  oath  as 
he  levelled  his  gun  at  Rumsey,  "  or  I  '11  shoot  the  top  of 
your  head  off." 

"  There  's  a  man,"  said  Rumsey,  pointing  to  Bunton, 
*'  who  is  unarmed.     Let  him  disarm  the  others." 

"  Oh !  "  replied  Bunton  in  a  lachrymose  tone,  "  I  '11 
hold  the  horses  —  I  '11  hold  the  horses,  while  you  take 
off  the  pistols.  Anything  —  anything,  only  don't  shoot 
ine." 

"  Go  then,  and  hold  the  horses,  you  long-legged  coward," 


238   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

said  the  robber;  "  <and  now,"  he  continued,  levelling  his 
gun  at  and  addressing  Ilumse}',  "  get  down  at  once,  and  do 
as  you  've  been  ordered,  or  you  '11  be  a  dead  man  in  half 
a  minute." 

The  order  was  too  peremptory  to  be  disobeyed.  Rum- 
sey  tied  the  reins  to  the  brake-handle,  and  jumped  to  the 
ground. 

"  Now  take  them  arms  off,"  said  the  robber,  "  and  be 
quick  about  it  too." 

Removing  the  two  navy  revolvers  from  ''  Bummer  Dan," 
Rumsey  sidled  off  slowly,  with  the  hope  of  getting  a  shot 
at  the  ruffians;  but  they,  comprehending  his  design,  or- 
dered him  to  throw  them  on  the  ground.  As  the  choice 
lay  between  obedience  or  death,  he  laid  them  down,  and 
was  proceeding  very  slowly  to  remove  the  pistols  from  the 
other  passengers,  with  the  hope  that  by  some  fortunate 
chance  a  company  of  horsemen  or  some  friendly  train 
would  come  to  the  rescue  before  the  villains  could  complete 
their  work. 

"  Hurry  up  there,"  shouted  the  robber.  "  Don't  keep 
us  waiting  all  day." 

After  the  passengers  were  freed  of  their  arms,  and  the 
arms  piled  up  near  the  road  agents,  the  speaker  of  the 
two  ordered  Rumsey  to  relieve  them  of  their  purses.  Bun- 
ton,  who  had  all  the  time  been  petitioning  for  his  life,  took 
out  his  purse,  and  throwing  it  towards  Rumsey,  ex- 
claimed, 

"  There  's  a  hundred  and  twenty  dollars, —  all  I  have  in 
the  world.     You  're  welcome  to  it,  only  don't  kill  me." 

All  this  while,  the  men,  not  daring  to  drop  their  hands, 
directed  Rumsey  in  his  search  for  their  purses.  He  had 
taken  a  sack  of  gold  (hist  from  Percy,  one  from  Madison. 
and  two  from  "  Bummer  Dan,"  and  supposed  his  work  to 
be  completed. 

"Have  you  got  all?"  iiujuirid  the  robber. 


COACH  ROBBERIES  239 

"  All  I  could  find,"  replied  Ruinscy. 

Turning  to  iNIadison,  the  robber  asked,  pointing  to  the 
sacks, 

"  Is  that  all  you  've  got?  " 

"  No,"  said  Madison,  nudging  his  pocket  with  his  el- 
bow, "  there  's  another  in  this  pocket." 

The  road  agent,  in  an  angry  manner,  cursing  Runisey 
for  trying  to  deceive  him,  ordered  him  to  take  it  out. 

"  Don't  3'ou  leave  nothing,"  was  the  stern,  ungrammati- 
cal  command. 

Rumsey  took  the  purse,  and  having  added  it  to  the  pile, 
was  about  to  resume  his  seat  on  the  box. 

"  Where  are  you  going-f*  "  shouted  both  the  robbers. 

"  To  get  on  the  coach,  you  fools,"  retorted  Rumse3^ 
"  You  've  got  all  there  is,  and  we  want  to  go  on  now." 

'  "  Go  back  there,  and  get  the  big  sack  from  that  Irish 
bummer,"  said  one  of  the  robbers ;  and  pointing  his  pistol 
at  Dan,  he  added,  "  You  're  the  man  we  're  after.  Get 
that  strap  off  your  shoulder." 

Poor  Dan !  His  money  was  very  dear  to  him,  but  his 
life  was  dearer.  As  he  could  not  save  both,  he  commenced 
at  once  to  remove  the  strap.  Rumsey  came  up,  and  tried 
to  pull  it  out,  but  finding  it  would  not  come,  stepped  back, 
while  Dan  was  engaged  in  unbuckling  the  belt. 

"  Jerk  it  off,"  shouted  the  robber ;  "  or  I  '11  shoot  you  in 
a  minute." 

"  Give  him  time,"  interposed  Rumsey ;  "  you  '11  not  kill 
a  man  when  he  's  doing  all  he  can  for  you  ?  " 

"  Well,  hurry  up,  then,  you  awkward  blackguard.  We 
have  no  time  to  lose." 

As  soon  as  the  belt  was  loosed,  Dan  drew  forth  a  large, 
fringed,  buckskin  bag  containing  two  sacks,  which  he 
handed  to  Rumsey,  who  tossed  it  on  the  heap. 

"  That 's  what  we  wanted,"  said  the  robber.  "  Now  get 
aboard,  all  of  you,  and  get  out  of  this  as  fast  as  you  can ; 


240   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 


and  if  vvc  ever  hear  a  word  from  one  of  you,  we  '11  shoot 
you  on  sight." 

They  obeyed  with  alacrity.  Bunton  resumed  his  sea 
beside  the  driver,  and  commenced  whipping  the  horses,  ob- 
serving, as  they  rode  ofF,  that  it  was  the  hottest  place  h 
was  ever  in.  At  a  turn  in  the  road,  Bunton  looked  back. 
The  bandits  had  dismounted.  One  held  the  horses;  th( 
other  was  picking  up  the  plunder,  which,  in  all,  amountec 
to  twenty-eight  hundred  dollars.  After  gathering  up  theii 
booty,  the  robbers  galloped  rapidly  over  the  Indian  trai 
leading  to  Bannack,  arriving  there  in  advance  of  the  coach 

When  intelligence  of  the  robbery  reached  Bannack,  pub- 
lic indignation  was  aroused,  but  the  time  had  not  yet  ar- 
rived for  action.  Had  the  robbers  been  recognized,  the] 
would  have  fared  hard  on  their  return  to  Bannack,  bu 
the  people  felt  that  it  was  better  not  to  strike,  than  striki 
at  random. 

George  Hildernian,  one  of  the  robber  gang,  was  present 
at  the  express-office  on  the  arrival  of  the  coach,  seemingly 
as  much  surprised  as  any  one  at  the  intelligence  of  th« 
robbery.  His  real  object,  however,  was  to  observe  whethei 
the  passengers  had  recognized  the  ruffians.  If  so,  he  waj 
to  report  it  to  them,  that  they  might  keep  out  of  the  way, 
"  Bummer  Dan,"  doubtless,  had  in  his  employ  some  per- 
son in  the  confidence  of  the  robbers ;  otherwise,  his  efTorta 
to  avoid  them  might  have  been  successful. 

It  was  afterwards  ascertained  that  Frank  Parish  an 
liob  Zachary  wore  the  men  who  connnitted  the  robbery 
Bill  Bunton,  being  in  the  secret,  aided  as  much  as  possibl 
in  delaying  the  coach  over-night  at  Rattlesnake,  and  su 
plving  it  with  worn-out  horses  for  the  trip  from  his  ranche 
to  Bannack,     "  BumiiK'r  Dan  "  and  Percy  recognized  the 
robbers,  but  were  rest  ruined  by  personal  fear  from  expos- 
ing them. 

No  man  in  this  company  was  more  feared  by  the  ruf- 


urn 


COACH  ROBBERIES  241 

fians  than  Rumscy.  They  could  not  frighten  him,  and  no 
warning  of  his  friends  prevented  him  from  fully  express- 
ing and  ventilating  his  opinions  concerning  them.  Noth- 
ing would  silence  his  denunciations,  but  his  death;  and 
this  being  resolved  upon  by  the  robbers,  they  prepared  to 
improve  the  opportunity  afforded  by  his  return  to  Vir- 
ginia City,  to  accomplish  it.  It  was  so  late  in  the  day 
Avhen  he  arrived  at  Dempsey's  that  he  concluded  to  pass 
the  night  there.  Boone  Helm,  who  had  been  awaiting  his 
appearance,  met  him  in  the  bar-room  soon  after  his  ar- 
rival, and  invited  him  and  other  persons  present  to  drink 
with  him.  Rumsey  drank  with  the  company  two  or  three 
times.     Helm  called  for  more  drinks. 

"  I  've  had  enough,"  said  Rumsey,  declining  to  drink 
more. 

"  Take  another,  take  another,"  said  Helm.  "  It 's  good 
to  keep  the  cold  out." 

"  Not  another  drop,"  replied  Rumsey.  "I  know  my 
gauge  on  the  liquor  question,  and  never  go  beyond  it." 

"  You  shall  drink  again,"  said  Helm,  with  an  oath,  cast- 
ing a  malicious  glance  at  Rumsey. 

"  I  won^t  drink  again,"  was  the  immediate  reply,  "  and 
no  man  can  make  me." 

"  No  man  can  refuse  to  drink  with  me  and  live,"  re- 
plied Helm,  seizing  his  revolver  as  if  to  draw  it. 

Rumsey  was  too  quick  for  him.  Before  the  desperado 
could  draw  his  pistol,  Rumsey  had  his  levelled  at  his  head. 
Addressing  him  in  a  calm,  steady  tone,  he  said, 

"  Don't  draw  your  pistol,  or  I  '11  shoot  you,  sure." 

The  men  gazed  sternly  upon  each  other  for  a  minute 
or  more,  Helm  finally  loosing  his  grasp  of  his  pistol,  and 
saying, 

"  Well,  you  're  the  first  man  that  ever  looked  me  down. 
Let 's  be  friends." 

The  courage  of  Rumsey  inspired  the  robber  with  a  re- 


242   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

spect  for  him  wliicli  probably  savod  liis  life,  as  no  further 
molestation  was  otl'ered  him  on  his  way  to  Virginia  City, 

Percy  was  the  proprietor  of  a  bowling  alley  in  Ban- 
nack.  The  roughs,  in  frequenting  his  saloon,  would  leave 
their  horses  standing  outside  the  door ;  and  he  had  so  often 
seen  the  animals  and  accoutrements  of  each,  that  he  easily 
recognized  the  robbers  by  their  horses  and  saddles.  When 
the  coach  arrived,  Percy  saw  Frank  Parish  take  Henry 
Plummer  to  one  side,  and  engage  in  conversation  with  him. 
In  a  few  minutes,  Plummer  came  to  Percy,  and  asked  him 
if  he  knew  the  robbers.     Percy  replied, 

"  No ;  and  if  I  did,  I  'd  not  be  such  a  fool  as  to  tell  who 
they  were." 

Plunmier  tapped  him  on  the  shoulder,  and  replied, 

"  You  stick  to  that,  Percy,  and  you  '11  be  all  right. 
There  are  about  seventy-five  of  the  worst  desperadoes  ever 
known  on  the  west  side  of  the  mountains,  in  the  country, 
in  a  band,  and  I  know  who  they  are." 

Bunton,  after  this  robbery,  used  occasionally  to  accost 
Percy  in  a  playful  manner,  with  such  language  as,  "  Throw 
up  your  hands  " ;  or,  "  We  were  fools  to  be  robbed,  were  n't 
we?"  Percy,  knowing  that  Bunton  was  one  of  the  gang, 
soon  tired  of  this;  and  one  day  at  a  race-course,  when  thus 
saluted,  remarked,  with  unmistakable  displeasure, 

"  That 's  played  out." 

The  words  were  scarcely  uttered,  when  Bunton  raised 
his  pistol  and  fired  at  him.  The  ball  grazed  Percy's  car. 
.lason  Luce,  a  driver  of  Mr.  Oliver's  express,  stepped  up 
and  said  to  Bunton, 

"  If  you  want  to  fight,  why  don't  you  take  a  man  of 
your  own  size,  instead  of  a  smaller  one?  " 

Later  in  the  day,  while  intoxicated.  Luce  calletl  Bunion 
a  coward,  in  the  presence  of  his  brother,  Sam  Bunton. 
The  latter  whipin-d  him  severely  on  the  spot.  Three  days 
later.   Luce  canitd   the  express  to  Salt  Lake  City,  Sam 


COACH  ROBBERIES  243 

IJunton  following  four  or  {\\v  days  tlR-rcaftcr.  Luce  met 
him  at  the  Salt  Lake  House. 

"  Wo  liad,"  said  he,  addressing  him,  "  a  little  difficulty 
in  Bannack,  and  now  we  '11  settle  it." 

"  It 's  already  settled,"  said  Bunton. 

"  You  're  a  liar,"  replied  Luce,  and  drawing  his  knife 
cut  Bunton's  throat,  killing  him  on  the  spot.  Luce  was 
arrested,  tried,  and  found  guilty  of  murder.  By  the  Ter- 
ritorial statute  of  Utah,  he  was  authorized  to  choose  the 
mode  of  his  execution,  from  the  three  forms  of  hanging, 
shooting,  or  beheading.  His  choice  was  to  be  shot,  and  he 
was  executed  in  that  manner. 

Bill  Bunton  and  Sam  Bunton  were  natives  of  Ohio. 
Their  parents  moved  to  Andrew  County,  Missouri,  in 
1839,  and  thence  to  Oregon  in  1842,  when  they  were  re- 
spectively sixteen  and  fourteen  years  old.  The  father  was 
a  rough,  drinking,  quarrelsome  man,  clever,  but  un- 
educated. 


CHAPTER  XXV 

LEROY  SOUTHMAYD 

EARLY  In  tlie  afternoon  of  a  cold  day  late  in  Novem- 
ber, 1863,  Lcroy  Southmayd,  Captain  Moore,  and  a 
discharged  driver  known  as  "  Billy,"  took  passage  in 
Oliver's  coach  at  Virginia  City,  for  Bannack.  A  ruffian 
equally  well  known  by  the  cognomens  of  "  Old  Tex  "  and 
"  Jim  Crow  "  stood  near,  watching  the  departing  vehicle. 
As  Moore's  eyes  alighted  upon  him,  he  said  to  Southmayd, 

"  I  am  sorry  to  see  that  rascal  watching  us ;  he  belongs 
to  the  gang.     It  bodes  us  no  good." 

"  Oh,"  replied  Southmayd,  laughing,  "  I  think  there  's 
no  danger.  Robbery  has  '  played  out.'  These  fellows  are 
beginning  to  understand  that  the  people  will  hold  them 
accountable  for  their  villainies." 

Little  more  was  said  about  it,  the  conversation  turningj 
to  more  congenial  topics.     About  three  o'clock,  the  coach, 
which  had  made  slow  progress,  drove  up  in  front  of  Lor-j 
rain's,  eleven  miles  from  town.     While  Tom  Caldwell,  thej 
driver,  was  changing  horses,  George  Ives  and  Steve  Marsh- 
land rode  up,  dismounted,  and  asked  if  they  could  pro- 
cure a  change  of  horses.      Having  ascertained  that  they] 
could  not  do  so,  they  ordered  feed  for  those  they  had  bcenj 
riding,   Ives   in   the   meantime   carefully    avoiding   South- 
mayd.    The  company  fell  into  a  desultory  conversation, 
which  Ives  abruptly  terminated  by  remarking  that  he  had 
heard  from  Old  Tex. 

"  He  is,"  said  he,  "  at  Cold  Spring  ranch.  I  must  has- 
ten on  and  overtake  him." 

^2ti 


1 


LEROY  SOUTHMAYD  245 

The  coacli  soon  departed,  and  Ives  and  jMarsliland  hn- 
nicdiately  ordered  their  Jiorses,  and  riding  rapidly,  passed 
it  a  short  distance  below  Lorrain's. 

Cold  Spring  ranch  was  eight  miles  farther  on  the  stage- 
route.  That  Old  Tex,  who  was  watching  the  coach  when 
it  left  Virginia  Cit}^  should  be  there,  awaiting  the  arrival 
of  these  two  ruffians,  occasioned  our  passengers  great  un- 
easiness. They  knew  almost  intuitively  that  a  robbery 
was  in  contemplation.  When  the  coach  arrived  at  Cold 
Spring,  the  first  objects  which  met  their  gaze  on  alighting 
from  it,  were  the  three  ruffians  Ives,  Marshland,  and  Old 
Tex  in  close  conversation. 

After  a  few  moments'  detention,  Caldwell  drove  on  to 
Point  of  Rocks,  where  the  passengers  remained  until  morn- 
ing. Leaving  at  an  early  hour,  they  proceeded  to  Stone's 
ranche,  and  during  their  brief  stay  there,  Ives,  who  had 
been  joined  by  Bob  Zachary  and  William  Graves,  known 
as  "  Whiskey  Bill,"  made  a  detour,  and  passed  the  coach 
unperceived.  The  three  gentlemanly  solicitors  of  the  road 
trotted  slowly  on  towards  Bannack.  They  were  in  com- 
plete disguise,  each  one  incased  in  a  blanket  of  green  and 
blue.  "  Whiskey  Bill  "  wore  a  silk  hat,  at  that  time,  per- 
haps, the  only  one  in  the  Territory.  His  sleeves  were 
rolled  above  the  elbows,  and  his  face  concealed  behind  a 
black  silk  handkerchief,  through  the  eyelets  in  which  his 
ferret  eyes  shone  like  a  couple  of  stars,  in  partial  eclipse. 
The  gray  horse  he  bestrode  was  enveloped  in  a  blanket  so 
completely  that  only  his  head,  legs,  and  tail  were  visible. 
The  horses  of  his  associates  were  similarly  overspread. 
Ives  was  masked  in  a  piece  of  gray  blanket,  and  Zachary 
with  a  remnant  of  hickory  shirting.  No  one,  unsuspicious 
of  their  presence,  however  familiar  with  their  persons, 
would  have  recognized  them. 

The  coach  horses  moved  forward  at  their  usual  rapid 
rate,  bringing  the  passengers  in  sight  of  the  horsemen  a 


246  VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

little  before  eleven  o'cloek.  Their  attention  was  first  at- 
tracted by  the  peculiar  costume,  and  the  gun  which  each 
man  held  firmlj  across  his  saddle-bow.  As  they  approached 
them  more  nearly,  Southmayd  observed  to  Caldwell,  the 
driver, — 

"  They  're  queer-looking  beings,  Tom,  anyhow." 

"  They  're  road  agents,  Leroy,  you  may  depend  upon 
it,"  replied  Caldwell. 

"  Well,"  said  Southmayd,  "  I  believe  they  are,  but  we 
can't  help  ourselves  now." 

As  he  said  this,  the  leaders  were  nearly  up  with  the  horse- 
men. They  rapidly  wheeled  their  horses,  and  presented 
their  guns, —  Graves  taking  in  range  the  head  of  Cald- 
well ;  Ives,  that  of  Southmayd ;  and  Zachary  alternately 
aiming  at  Moore  and  Bill^'. 

"  Halt !  "  commanded  Ives ;  "  throw  up  your  hands," 
and  on  the  instant  the  arms  of  every  man  in  the  coach  were 
raised. 

"  Get  down,  all  of  you,"  he  added. 

All  but  Southmayd  jumped  to  the  ground.  He  lingered,] 
with  the  hope  that  an  opportunity  might  offer  to  fire  upon] 
them. 

"  Get  down,"  repeated  Ives,  adding  a  sententious  epi- 
thet to  the  connnand. 

Still  hesitating  to  comply,  Ives  glanced  his  eye  along 
his  gun-barrel  as  if  to  shoot,  and  in  that  subdued  tone  al- 
ways expressive  of  desperation,  once  more  issued  the  com- 
mand. 

Southmayd  withstood  it  no  longer,  but  while  making  a 
deliberate  descent  threw  open  his  coat,  thinking  that  an 
opportunity  might  offer  for  him  to  use  his  revolver.  Ives,  It' 
perceiving  his  object,  levelled  his  gun,  and  hissed  out,  in  li 
words  terribly  distinct, 

"  If  you  do  that  again,  I  '11  kill  you!  " 

The    passengers    stood    with    upraised    hands    bv    the 


LEROY  SOUTHMAYD  247 

roadsidi.',  iiiuler  cover  of  tlio  ^ims  of  the  robbers.  Atl- 
(Ircsslii^-  Zac'liary,  Ives  said, 

"  Get  down  and  look  after  those  fellows." 

This  was  an  unwelcome  task  for  Zacharj.  Villain  as 
he  was,  Southniayd  says  that  while  he  was  engaged  in 
searching  his  person,  he  quivered  like  an  aspen.  Throw- 
ing Southniayd's  pistol  and  money  on  the  ground,  he  was 
about  to  renew  the  search,  when  Billy,  tired  of  the  position, 
dropped  his  hands. 

"  Up  with  your  hands  again,"  roared  Ives  with  an  oath, 
at  the  same  time  bringing  the  terrible  muzzles  to  bear  vipon 
the  person  of  the  frightened  driver.  Billy,  who  felt  that 
it  was  no  time  to  bandy  proprieties,  threw  them  up  with 
more  speed  than  pleasure,  realizing  that  the  buckshot  were 
safer  in  the  barrels  than  in  his  luckless  carcass. 

Zachary  now^  commenced  searching  Moore,  and,  taking 
from  his  pocket  a  sack,  inquired, 

"  Is  this  all  you  have  ?  " 

"  All  I  have  in  the  world,"  replied  Moore. 

Zachary  threw  it  on  the  heap  and  came  to  Billy. 

"  Give  me  your  pistol,"  said  he.  Billy  placed  the  weapon 
in  his  hands. 

"  Is  it  loaded.''  "  inquired  Ives. 

"  No,"  replied  Billy. 

"  Give  it  to  him  again,"  said  Ives  to  Zachary.  "  We 
don't  want  any  empty  weapons." 

"  My  God !  "  exclaimed  Caldwell,  as  Zachary  next  ap- 
proached him.  "  What  do  you  want  of  me.''  I  have  noth- 
ing." 

"  Let  him  alone,"  said  Ives ;  and  addressing  Caldwell,  he 
inquired,  "  Is  there  anything  in  the  mail  we  want .''  " 

"  I  don't  think  there  is,"  answered  Tom. 

Zachary  mounted  the  box,  and  commenced  an  examina- 
tion, but  found  nothing.  Caldwell  scanned  the  villain  nar- 
rowly, for  the  purpose,  if  possible,  of  recognizing  him. 


248   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

"  Don't  you  do  that,  if  jou  want  to  live,"  said  Ives,  rat- 
tling his  gun  into  dangerous  range. 

"Well  then,"  said  Tom  impudently,  "may  I  look  at 


you 


?  " 


The  robber  nodded  a  ready  assent,  as  much  as  to  say, I 
"  Find  me  out,  if  you  can." 

The  search  over,  Zachary  picked  up  his  gun,  and  stepped 
back. 

"  Get  up  and  skedaddle,"  said  Ives  to  the  plundered  i 
group.  The  horses  had  grown  restive  while  the  robbery 
was  progressing,  but  Tom  had  restrained  them. 

"  Drive  slowly,  Tom,"  said  Southmayd  to  Caldwell  in  an 
undertone,  as  he  ascended  the  box.  "  I  want  to  recon- 
noitre a  little,"  and  turned  his  face  to  the  robbers. 

"  Drive  on,"  shouted  Ives. 

Southmayd  still  continued  looking  at  the  robbers  as  the 
coach  departed,  which  Ives  observing,  the  villain  raised  his 
gun,  and  yelled, 

"  If  you  don't  turn  around  and  mind  your  business,  I'll 
shoot  the  top  of  your  head  off." 

The  three  robbers  then  stood  together,  watching  the 
coach  until  it  was  lost  to  their  view. 

"  By  George !  "  said  Leroy,  laughing,  "  I  looked  down 
into  those  gun-barrels  so  long  that  I  thought  I  fairly  saw 
the  buckshot  leap  from  their  imprisonment.  It  would  have 
afforded  me  pleasure  to  squander  the  bullets  in  my  pistol 
on  the  scoundrel." 

Southmayd  lost  four  hundred  dollars  in  gold,  and  Cap- 
tain Moore  one  hundred  dollars  in  treasury  notes.  As  was 
usual,  quite  a  large  number  of  people  were  awaiting  the 
arrival  of  the  coach,  when  it  drove  up  to  the  express-office 
at  Bannack.  Inquiries  were  immediately  made  as  to  the 
cause  of  its  detention  so  much  later  than  conunon. 

"Was  the  coach  roljhed  to-day?"  incjuired  IMummer  of 
Southmayd,  as  he  jvnnped  from  the  box. 


I 


LEROY  SOUTIIMAYD  249 

*'  It  was,"  replied  Lcroj,  taking-  him  by  tlie  arm,  and  by 
bis  confidential  manner  signifying  that  he  was  about  to 
impart  to  him,  as  sheriff,  all  he  knew  about  it.  Just  at 
this  moment.  Dr.  Bissell,  the  miners'  judge  at  Virginia 
City,  gave  Southmayd  a  slight  nudge,  and  catching  his 
eye,  winked  significantly  for  him  to  step  aside. 

"  Be  careful,  Leroy, —  very  careful  what  you  say  to  that 
man." 

Leroy  gave  an  appreciative  nod,  and  rejoined  Plummer. 

"  So  you  have  been  robbed,"  said  the  latter.  "  I  'm  not 
surprised, —  and  I  think  I  can  tell  3'ou  who  were  the 
robbers," 

"  Who  were  they  ?  "  eagerly  asked  Southmayd. 

"  George  Ives  was  one  of  them,"  said  Plummer. 

"  Yes,"  responded  Southmaj^d,  "  and  the  others  were 
*  Whiskey  Bill '  and  Bob  Zachary ;  and  I  '11  live  to  see  them 
hanged  before  three  weeks." 

Southmayd  did  not  know  that  Plummer's  accusation  was 
made  for  the  purpose  of  detecting  his  knowledge  of  the 
robbers.  Bissell,  who  had  overheard  Southmayd's  revela- 
tion to  Plummer,  said  to  him  soon  after, 

"  Leroy,  your  life  is  n't  worth  a  cent." 

George  Crisman,  who  was  standing  by,  added, 

"  They  '11  kill  you  sure." 

Business  detained  Southmayd  in  Bannack  the  succeed- 
ing three  days.  During  that  time  he  never  met  Plummer, 
who  left  him  immediately  after  they  held  the  conversation 
above  narrated. 

Two  days  afterwards,  while  on  his  way  to  Virginia  City, 
Caldwell,  the  driver,  met  with  "  Whiskey  Bill  "  at  the  Cold 
Spring  ranche. 

"  Did  you  hear  of  the  robbery,  Bill,  on  my  trip  out  ?  " 
he  inquired. 

"  Sure,  I  did,  Tom,"  replied  Bill.  "  Do  you  know  any 
of  the  fellows  who  committed  it?  " 


250   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

"  NoL  I,"  icpliKl  CiUhvill,  "  .111(1  1  woukl  n't  for  the 
world.     If  I  (lid,  and  told  of  them,  I  should  n't  live  long." 

"  That  's  so,  Tom,"  rejoined  Graves.  "  You  would  n't 
live  twenty-four  hours.  It  's  always  best  to  be  ignorant  in  f| 
matters  of  that  kind.  I  've  had  experience,  and  I  know. 
I  '11  just  tell  you,  by  way  of  illustration,  about  my  being 
robljed  in  California.  One  night  as  my  partner  and  I  were 
riding  along,  two  fellows  rode  up  and  told  us  to  throw 
up  our  hands.  Wc  did  so,  and  they  took  from  us  two 
thousand  dollars  in  coin.  I  said  to  'em,  '  Boys,  it  's  pretty 
rough  to  take  all  we  've  got.'  They  said  so  it  was,  and 
gave  us  back  forty  dollars.  A  week  afterwards  I  saw  'em 
dealing  faro.  One  of  'em  saw  me  looking  at  him,  and  arose 
and  came  up  to  nie,  and  said  in  a  whisper,  '  Ain't  you  one 
of  the  men  that  was  robbed  the  other  night?'  'Not  at 
all,'  says  I,  for  I  thought  if  I  said  '  yes  '  he  would  find  a 
way  to  put  me  out  of  the  way.  '  Oh,  well,'  says  he,  *  honor 
bright !  I  want  you  to  own  up.  I  know  you  're  the  man. 
Now,  I  'm  going  to  give  you  four  thousand  dollars,  just  for 
keeping  your  mouth  shut.'  And  he  kept  his  promise.  So 
you  see,  Tom,  that  I  saved  my  life,  and  got  four  thousand 
doHars  for  keeping  still." 

Tom  wished  somebody  would  treat  him  so,  but  when  tell- 
ing the  story,  said  that  he  "  lacked  confidence  in  human 
nature,  especially  where  the  road  agents  were  concerned." 
He  even  ventured  the  assertion  that  he  "  did  not  believe 
Graves'  story,  anyway.'* 

Ives  went  to  ^'irginia  City  the  day  following  the  rob- 
bery. While  intoxicated  at  one  of  the  fancy  establish- 
ments, he  boasted  openly  of  liaving  made  Tom  Caldwell 
throw  up  his  hands,  and  that  he  intended  to  do  it  again. 
Talking  of  the  robbery  with  one  of  the  drivers,  he  said, 

"  I  am  the  Bamboo  chief  that  committed  tliat  robbery." 

"Don't  you  believe  Caldwell  knows  it?"  inquired  the 
driver. 


LEROY  SOUTHMAYD  251 

"  Certainly  he  knows  it,"  replied  Ives.  "  He  recognized 
»nc  at  once." 

As  Ives  and  the  driver  were  riding  side  by  side  into  Vir- 
ginia City,  on  their  return  from  Nevada,  the  driver  sav/ 
Caldwell  approaching.  He  motioned  him  to  keep  away. 
Caldwell  turned  and  went  away,  and  was  afterwards  told 
that  Ives  knew  he  had  recognized  him  in  the  robbery,  and 
would  probably  kill  him  on  sight.  The  driver,  who  ex- 
pected that  Ives  would  shoot  at  Caldwell,  had  his  revolver 
in  readiness  to  shoot  him  at  the  time  alluded  to,  in  case 
Ives  manifested  such  a  design. 

Meantime,  Southmayd,  having  finished  his  business  at 
Bannack,  was  ready  to  return  to  Virginia  City  by  the  next 
coach.  His  friends  were  importunate  for  him  to  remain. 
On  the  day  he  was  to  leave.  Buck  Stinson  and  Ned  Ray, 
on  being  told  of  it  at  the  express-office,  avowed  their  in- 
tention of  accompanying  him.  The  agent  then  searched 
for  Southmaj'd,  and  said  to  him, 

"  For  God's  sake,  Lero}^  don't  go.  These  fellows  mean 
to  kill  you." 

"  I  've  got  to  go,"  replied  Southmayd  ;  "  and  if  3'ou  '11 
get  me  a  double-barrelled  shotgun,  I'll  take  my  chances." 
The  agent  complied  with  this  request,  and  the  coach  left 
Bannack  with  Southmayd,  Stinson,  Ray,  and  a  lad  of  six- 
teen years  for  passengers,  and  Tom  Caldwell  the  driver. 
The  coach  was  an  open  hack.  Southmayd  sat  on  the 
driver's  seat  with  Caldwell,  and  the  boy  took  the  back 
seat,  and  facing  him  were  Stinson  and  Ray  on  the 
middle  seat.     Southmayd  said  to  the  boy  on  starting, 

"  If  we  have  any  trouble,  do  you  shoot,  or  I  '11  shoot 
you." 

"  You  may  be  sure  I  '11  do  it,  too,  Southmayd,"  said 
the  boy.     "  I  'm  not  afraid  of  them." 

Southmayd  kept  watch  of  the  two  robbers.  The  drive 
through  the  day  was  undisturbed,  until  the  coach  reached 


252   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

the  crossing  of  the  Stinking  Water.  In  the  three  persons 
standing  in  front  of  the  station,  Southniayd  recognized 
Bob  Zachary,  Bill  Graves,  and  another  noted  rough  known 
as  Alex  Carter.  Stinson  shouted,  addressing  them  as  road 
agents.  Each  was  full>-  armed  with  gun,  pistol,  and  knife. 
Southniayd  whispered  to  Caldwell, 

"  Tom,  I  guess  they  've  got  us." 

"  That 's  so,"  replied  C-ildwdl. 

Caldwell  drove  on  to  Cold  Spring  station  followed  by  the 
three  roughs  on  horseback,  who  soon  came  up.  This  was 
the  supper  station.  Two  of  the  robbers  left  their  guns  at 
the  door.  Carter's  was  strung  upon  his  back.  They  en- 
tered the  house  in  a  boisterous  manner,  with  Zachary, 
feigning  drunkenness,  in  their  lead. 

"  I  'd  like,"  said  that  ruffian  with  brutal  emphasis  and 
gesture,  "  to  see  the  man  who  don't  like  Stone."  The  ban- 
ter was  made  for  the  purpose  of  exciting  a  quarrel.  "  Just 
show  me  the  man  that  don't  like  him,  or  let  any  man  here 
just  say  he  don't  like  him,  if  he  wants  a  healthy  fight  om 
his  hands,"  blustered  the  villain. 

No  one  replied.    Seemingly  ever}'  one  present  entertained ' 
a  high  opinion  of  jMr.  Stone.     Failing  to  rouse  a  quarrel, 
he  ordered  "  drinks  all  round,"  bought  a  bottle  of  whiskey,, 
and  preserved  the  swagger  and  braggadocio  of  a  drunken  i 
ruffian  through  supper  time. 

After  supper,  and  while  preparing  to  leave,  Southmayd 
said  privately  to  Caldwell, 

"  Tom,  I  see  through  it  all.     You  nnist  take  Stinson  on  5 
the  seat  with  you.     I  '11  sit  behind  and  watch  him,  and  the 
boy  can  watch  Kay." 

When  ready  to  start,  and  this  arrangement  was  maile 
known  to  Buck  Stinson,  he  did  not  relish  it,  and  said, 

"  I  don't  want  to  ride  up  there." 

"  Will,  you  will,"  replied  Southmayd  sternly,  pointing 
to  the  seat. 


LEROY  SOUTHMAYD  253 

"  This  is  pretty  rough,  is  n't  it?  "  said  Stinson  with  an 
oath,  as  lie  mounted  to  the  seat. 

The  three  mounted  ruffians,  Zachary,  Graves,  and  Car- 
ter, started  on  in  advance  of  the  coach.  Southmayd  and 
the  boy  sat  with  their  guns  across  their  knees,  watching  the 
motions  of  their  suspected  companions.  It  was  near  night- 
fall. Less  than  half  a  mile  distant  from  the  station,  the 
robbers,  who  had  been  riding  at  an  even  pace,  suddenly 
wheeled,  and  gave  the  command  to  halt,  simultaneously 
with  which,  Southmayd  levelled  his  gun  upon  Carter,  and 
Caldwell  and  the  boy  theirs  on  the  other  two. 

Carter,  stammering  with  alarm,  made  out  to  say,  "  We 
only  want  you  to  take  a  drink." 

The  bottle  was  passed  around,  Southmayd  and  Caldwell 
barely  touching  it  to  their  lips.  Handing  it  to  the  boy, 
Southmayd  gave  him  an  admonitory  touch  with  his  foot, 
—  comprehending  which,  he  did  not  drink.  As  Carter  had 
not  drunk  from  the  bottle,  Southmayd  feared  that  the  liq- 
uor had  been  poisoned.  Returning  the  bottle,  the  roughs 
who  received  it  inquired  politely  if  they  did  not  want  any 
more.     The  three  then  wheeled  their  horses,  exclaiming, 

"  We  're  off  to  Pete  Daly's,  "  and,  clapping  spurs  to 
their  horses,  they  were  soon  out  of  sight. 

The  coach  went  on  six  miles,  passed  Daly's  ranche,  and 
drew  up  at  Lorrain's.  From  this  ranche  to  Virginia  City, 
the  road  for  most  of  the  distance  is  rough,  narrow,  and  lies 
through  the  caiion  of  Alder  Gulch.  Nature  never  formed 
a  fitter  stretch  of  country  for  successful  robbery.  Of  this 
our  passengers  were  fully  aware,  and,  anticipating  that  the 
designs  of  the  robbers  must  culminate  on  this  part  of 
the  route,  Southmayd  took  Caldwell  aside  to  consult  as  to 
the  proper  course  to  pursue. 

"  It  's  a  rough  night's  work,  Tom,"  said  Southmayd, 
"  but  the  worst  is  to  come.  If  they  attack  us  in  the  canon, 
there  is  no  possible  chance  for  escape." 


254   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

"They'll  do  it,  sure,"  replied  Caldwell.  "It's  only 
driving  into  their  Imnds  to  attempt  to  go  on  to-night. 
Let 's  leave  the  coach  here  and  take  to  the  brush.  We  may 
then  avoid  them;  or  if  we  meet,  it  will  be  where  the  chances 
are  equal." 

Buck  Stinson,  who  had  been  on  the  watch  for  some  new 
arrangement,  overheard  this  conversation.  Anxious  as 
he  was  that  the  robbery  and  murder  should  take  place,  he 
knew  that  if  the  men  escaped,  as  they  assuredly  would  by 
the  means  contemplated,  they  would  bring  the  whole  com- 
munity of  Virginia  City  on  the  track  of  himself  and  his 
fellow  ruffians.  This  must  be  avoided,  even  though  they 
were  frustrated  in  their  design.  So  he  stepped  forward, 
and  said  to  Southma^'d  and  Caldwell  in  his  blandest 
manner, 

"  Gentlemen,  I  pledge  you  my  word,  my  honor,  and  my 
life,  that  you  will  not  be  attacked  between  this  place  and 
Virginia  City." 

"  If  you  mean  that,"  replied  Southmayd,  "  we  will  go 
on ;  but  if  we  are  attacked,  we  will  certainly  make  it  hot 
for  some  of  you." 

Soon  after  the  horses  started,  Stinson  commenced  sing- 
ing in  a  very  loud  voice,  and  continued  to  do  so  without 
intermission  until  nearly  exhausted.  Then,  at  his  request, 
Ray  took  up  the  chorus  and  kept  it  up  until  their  arrival 
in  ^'lrglnia  City.  This  was  a  signal  to  the  robbers  to  keep 
away.  Had  the  singing  ceased,  the  attack  would  have  been 
made.  Kay  called  on  Southmayd  the  next  day,  and  warnetl 
him,  as  he  valued  his  life,  to  mention  the  names  of  none  of 
those  among  tlic  ruffians  whom  he  had  recognized,  as  the 
ones  who  robbed  him  while  on  his  way  to  Bannack. 


CHAPTER  XXVI 

JOURNEY  TO  SALT  LAKE  CITY 

DR.  A.  J.  OLIVER  had  been  running  a  letter  express 
between  Bannack  and  Salt  Lake  City  during  the 
year,  and  early  in  the  autumn  had  substituted  for  a  single 
saddle  horse  and  pack-animal,  a  small  lumber  wagon,  with 
conveniences  for  the  transportation  of  a  few  passengers. 
It  was  at  best,  a  very  precarious  mode  of  conveyance ;  but 
as  it  was  the  onl}'^  public  one,  it  was  always  full.  Mr.  Sam- 
uel T.  Hauser  (afterwards  appointed  Governor  of  Mon- 
tana by  President  Cleveland)  and  I  had  been  for  some 
time  contemplating  a  trip  to  the  States,  and  being  now 
ready,  I  left  Virginia  City  for  Bannack,  expecting  to  find 
the  express  on  my  arrival,  and  make  arrangements  for 
our  passage  to  Salt  Lake  City  on  its  return  trip.  The  day 
before  I  left,  one  Ed  French  had  shot  at  me.  The  bullet 
slightly  grazed  an  eyeball,  doing  no  further  damage  than 
that  of  shaking  the  eye  in  its  socket,  and  inflicting  con- 
siderable pain.  I  contracted  a  severe  cold  on  the  ride  to 
Bannack,  which  settled  in  the  eye,  producing  inflammation 
and  temporary  blindness.  For  two  weeks  I  shut  myself  in 
a  dark  room,  ulceration  in  the  meantime  bringing  relief 
and  restoring  sight. 

While  thus  confined,  friends  occasionally  called  upon  me, 
and  one  day  I  was  informed  that  Ned  Ray  w^as  in  town, 
and  had  been  making  particular  inquiries  after  me.  The 
next  day  I  was  told  that  Buck  Stinson  was  there  on  the 
same  errand.  When  I  left  Virginia  City,  both  of  these 
ruffians  were  at  that  place.    I  was  convinced  that  they  had 

255 


256  VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

left  there  to  pursue  me  on  the  road  to  Salt  Lake  City.  Ray  > 
was  observed  to  watch  my  boarding-house,  on  repeated  oc-  [ 
casions,  very  closely. 

Upon  applying  to  Mr.  Oliver  for  transportation,  that 
gentleman    informed    me    that    snow    was    falling    on    tlie  i 
Pleasant  Valley  divide,  and  that  he  should  abandon   the  ' 
wagon   and  return  to  Salt  Lake  City  with  a  pack-mule. 
Disappointed  in  my  expectation  of  finding  a  conveyance, 
I  wrote  to  Mr.  Hauser,  who  came  over  immcdiatel}'. 

Messrs.  Dance  and  Stuart,  wholesale  merchants  of  Vir- 
ginia City,  had  arranged  to  send  by  us  to  their  creditors 
at  St.  Louis,  fourteen  thousand  dollars  in  gold  dust.  It 
was  contained  in  a  buckskin  sack,  and  sealed.  Clubfoot 
George,  whose  honesty  none  of  us  suspected,  had  heard  us 
hold  frequent  discussions  in  the  store  of  Dance  and  Stuart, 
as  to  the  chances  of  safely  getting  through  with  it  to  the 
States. 

Hauser  was  somewhat  surprised  on  entering  the  coach 
at  Virginia  City,  to  find  that  he  had  Plummer  for  a  fel- 
low passenger.  Believing,  upon  reflection,  that  Phnnmer 
was  going  to  Bannack  to  plan  means  for  robbing  him,  he 
resolved  to  act  as  if  he  had  the  most  implicit  confidence  in 
his  integrity.  He  accordingly  made  no  effort  to  hide  the 
sack  from  view,  or  conceal  the  fact  that  he  was  going  to 
the  States ;  talked  freely  and  confidentially,  and  seemed 
entirely  at  ease  in  Plummer's  society.  The  trip  was  made 
in  safety,  though  Hauser  confessed  that  while  passing 
through  Rattlesnake  Canon,  he  did  not  forget  the  unenvi- 
able notoriety  which  frequent  robberies  had  gained  for  it. 
When  the  coach  drove  up  to  Goodrich's  hotel  in  Ban- 
nack, he  felt  greatly  relieved,  and  with  the  sack  of  gold 
enveloped  in  thr  several  folds  of  his  blankets,  entered  the 
sitting-room,  where  he  was  met  by  some  old  friends,  and, 
as  was  customary  in  those  days,  congratulated  on  his  safe 
arrival.     In  a  few  monunts  he  drew  forth  the  sack,  and 


SAMUEL    T.    HAl'SKK 

Ex-Govcrnor  of  Montana 


JOURNEY  TO  SALT  LAKE        257 

in  the  presence  of  Judge  Edgcrton  and  several  other  lead- 
ing citizens,  turned  to  Pluuuner  who  was  standing  near, 
and  thus  carelessly  addressed  him: 

"  Plunnner,  I  hear  that  any  man  who  has  money  is  n't 
safe  in  this  town  over-night.  I  've  got  fourteen  thousand 
dollars  in  this  bag,  which  I  'm  going  to  take  to  the  States 
with  me  when  I  go,  and  I  want  you,  as  sheriiT,  to  keep  it 
for  me  till  I  start." 

Plummer  took  the  gold,  with  a  promise  for  its  safe  re- 
turn, which  he  fulfilled;  depositing  it  for  safekeeping  in 
George  Crisman's  store. 

Hauser's  friends  expressed  to  him  privately  their  sur- 
prise that  he  should  intrust  so  large  an  amount  to  a  man 
of  such  doubtful  reputation. 

*'\Vhy.'*"  replied  he,  laughing:  "do  you  think  he'll 
keep  it.?" 

"  I  should  be  afraid  of  it,"  said  one,  "  especially  if  he  's 
the  man  many  represent  him  to  be." 

"  Suppose  he  should,"  said  Hauser.  "  You  and  half 
a  dozen  other  good  citizens  saw  him  take  it,  and  heard 
him  promise  that  it  should  be  safely  returned.  He  knows, 
as  well  as  I  do,  that  if  he  fails  to  keep  this  promise,  or 
through  any  pretence  attempts  to  appropriate  the  gold, 
it  will  go  hard  with  him;  whereas,  if  I  should  attempt  to 
keep  it,  he,  with  others  of  the  roughs  knowing  that  I  had 
it,  would  kill  me  if  necessary  to  obtain  it.  The  gold  is 
safer  where  it  is ;  and  while  there,  is  a  security  for  my 
Hfe." 

This  was  a  bold  piece  of  strategy  on  the  part  of  Hau- 
ser, evincing  an  intuitive  insight  into  the  character  of 
Plummer ;  but  not  one  man  in  a  hundred  similarly  situated 
would  have  thought  of  adopting  it.  If  Plummer  had  en- 
tertained an  idea  that  Hauser  suspected  his  motives  in 
accompanying  him  to  Bannack,  this  act  of  gratuitous  con- 
fidence must  have  allayed  it  at  once. 


258   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

Hauser  and  I  engaged  a  passage  to  Salt  Lake  City  of 
one  of  a  company  of  eight  Mormon  freighters,  who  were 
to  leave  Bannack  at  noon  on  the  fourteenth  of  November, 
We  did  not  wish  to  leave  until  seven  o'clock  in  the  even- 
ing; and  the  man,  impatient  of  any  delay  beyond  the  de- 
parture of  his  companions,  finally  agreed,  for  an  extra 
ten  dollars  paid  in  advance,  to  wait  for  us  until  five  o'clock 
P.M.  If  we  were  not  ready  then,  he  would  retain  the  ten 
dollars,  and  leave  town  without  us,  so  as  to  overtake  the 
other  teams,  which  were  to  camp  that  night  at  Horse 
Prairie,  twelve  miles  distant.  These  arrangements  were 
made  in  George  Crisman's  store  where  Plummer  had  an 
office,  and  in  the  hearing  of  one  of  his  deputies,  who  im- 
mediately communicated  the  information  to  his  chief. 

Early  in  the  forenoon  Plummer  called  upon  Hauser 
and  presented  him  with  a  woolkn  scarf  of  a  bright  scarlet 
color,  saying,  "  You  will  find  it  useful  these  cold  nights." 
A  few  hours  afterwards,  a  report  was  circulated  of  the  dis- 
covery of  a  silver  lode  in  the  vicinity  of  Rattlesnake.  The 
person  bringing  in  this  intelligence,  requested  Plummer, 
who  from  his  experience  in  Nevada  was  supposed  to  be  a 
good  judge  of  the  quality  of  silver  ore,  to  go  immediately 
and  examine  it.  He  left  early  in  the  afternoon  on  the  Rat-  li 
tlesnake  road,  but  as  soon  as  he  was  beyond  observation, 
turned  southward  toward  Horse  Prairie.  Col.  Wilbur  F. 
Sanders,  who  soon  followed  in  the  direction  of  Rattle- 
snake, returned  the  next  day  with  the  intelligence  that 
he  had  been  unable  to  trace  him.  The  circumstance  of 
Plummer's  departure,  and  the  presence  in  town  of  Stin- 
son  and  Ray,  so  wrought  upon  the  fears  of  our  friends  for 
our  safety,  that  it  was  not  without  much  persuasion  that 
they  would  permit  us  to  undertake  the  journey.  We  were 
satisfied,  however,  that,  go  when  we  might,  wc  should 
have  to  incur  the  same  risk.  As  a  precautionary  measure, 
I  carefully  cleaned  my  gun,  and  loaded  each  barrel  with 


JOURNEY  TO  SALT  LAKE        259 

bvclvo  revolver  balls.  George  Dart,  a  friend,  observing 
this,  asked  why  I  was  filling  my  gun  so  full  of  lead.  I  re- 
plied that  we  were  fearful  of  an  attack,  and  that  the  indi- 
cations were  that  it  would  be  made  that  night,  if  at  all. 
Some  of  our  friends  endeavored  to  persuade  us  to  defer 
our  journey  till  a  more  favorable  time.  This  we  would 
have  done  had  we  not  believed  that  the  risk  would  have 
to  be  incurred  whenever  we  took  our  departure.  At  the 
hour  of  five  we  were  not  ready,  but  the  Mormon  teamster 
was  prevailed  upon  to  wait  for  us  two  hours  longer. 

Just  after  seven  o'clock,  and  as  we  were  putting  the 
provisions  which  we  had  prepared  for  our  journey  into 
the  wagon,  Henry  Tilden,  a  member  of  the  household  of 
Sidney  Edgerton,  then  Chief  Justice  of  Idaho,  came  in 
with  the  report  that  he  had  been  robbed  about  midway  on 
his  ride  from  Horse  Prairie,  bj^  three  men,  one  of  whom  he 
thought  was  Plummer.  This  created  much  excitement; 
and  if  our  friends  had  not  supposed  that  we  had  already 
left  town,  we  would  probably  have  been  forcibly  detained. 

Either  our  failure  to  appear  at  the  time  at  which  our 
appointment  to  leave  at  five  o'clock  justified  him  in  ex- 
pecting us,  or  the  belief  that  Tilden  had  circulated  the 
news  of  his  robbery,  and  thereby  delayed  our  departure, 
caused  Plummer  to  return  by  a  circuitous  route  to  town. 
He  inquired  for  me  at  my  boarding-house,  and  being  told 
that  both  Hauser  and  I  had  gone,  left  town  immediately 
in  hot  pursuit. 

In  the  wagon  with  us  was  one  Charles  Whitehead,  a 
gambler,  who  had  made  arrangements  with  another  of  the 
Mormon  teamsters  for  conveyance  to  Salt  Lake  City ;  but 
having  some  business  to  detain  him  in  town,  he  availed 
himself  of  the  circumstance  of  our  late  departure,  to  give 
it  attention.  I  had  frequently  seen  him  in  town,  but  knew 
nothing  about  him,  save  that  he  was  a  professional  gam- 
bler.   He  might,  I  thought,  belong  to  the  gang  and  be  in 


260  VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

some  way  connected  with  their  present  enterprise,  and  we 
kept  a  close  watch  upon  his  movements.  We  rode  witli 
our  guns  double-charged  and  cocked,  lying  upon  our  laps. 
It  was  after  eleven  o'clock  when  we  reached  the  camp  of 
the  advance  party.  The  night  was  clear  and  cold ;  the  at- 
mosphere crisp  with  frost.  Whitehead,  who  had  sent  his 
blankets  forward  by  the  other  teams,  found  that  they  had 
been  appropriated  by  one  of  the  teamsters,  who  had  con- 
cluded that  we  had  delayed  our  departure  from  town  till 
the  following  morning.  As  he  was  in  delicate  health,  I 
give  him  my  place  with  Hauser  in  the  wagon,  and  taking 
a  buffalo  robe,  stretched  myself  upon  the  ground  beside 
the  wagon. 

I  could  not  sleep  for  the  cold,  and  about  three  o'clock 
in  the  morning,  thoroughly  chilled,  I  arose,  took  my  gun 
in  my  hand,  and  walked  briskly  back  and  forth  before  the 
camp.  Finding  that  this  exercise  did  not  greatly  increase 
my  comfort,  I  went  down  to  the  bank  of  the  creek  tiiirty 
yards  distant  and  conunenced  gathering  dry  willows  to 
make  a  fire.  While  thus  employed  I  strajed  down  the 
stream  about  twenty  rods  from  the  camp.  Suddenly  I 
heard  a  confused  murnmr  of  voices,  which  at  first  I  thought 
came  from  the  camp,  but,  while  walking  towards  it,  found 
that  it  was  from  a  different  direction.  Curiosity  now 
overcame  all  thought  of  cold.  I  dropped  the  armful  of 
sticks  I  had  gathered,  and  carefully  disentangling  the  little 
copse  of  willows  Avhich  sheltered  nic  from  view,  peered 
through,  and  saw  in  tjie  dim  moonlight  three  footmen  ap- 
proaching on  the  other  side  of  the  stream.  The  thought 
struck  me  that  they  might  be  campers  in  searcji  of  horses 
or  mules  that  had  strayed.  I  walked  noiselessly  down  tlie 
stream,  to  a  point  where  I  could  obtain  through  a  vista 
an  unobstructed  view,  my  trusty  gun  held  firmly  in  the 
hollow  of  my  liaud.  The  three  men  approached  the  open- 
ing through  wliieh  I  was  gazing,  and  I  now  discovered  that 


JOURNEY  TO  SALT  LAKE        261 

their  features  were  concealed  by  loosely  flowing  masks.  I 
no  longer  doubted  their  identit3^  or  purpose.  Some  little 
noise  that  I  made  attracted  their  attention  to  the  spot 
where  I  was  standing.  They  saw  me,  and,  perceiving  that 
I  had  recognized  them,  changed  their  course,  and  dis- 
appeared beyond  a  clump  of  willows. 

jMy  first  impulse  was  now  to  return  to  camp,  and  arouse 
the  men,  but  I  concluded  not  to  do  so  unless  it  became 
necessary.  One  of  the  Mormons,  as  I  passed  by  him, 
roused  himself  sufficiently  to  ask  me  why  I  was  up  so  early. 
I  replied  that  I  was  watching  for  prowlers.  In  a  few  mo- 
ments I  returned  to  the  bank  of  the  creek,  and  followed  it 
down  thirty  or  forty  rods,  till  I  came  to  a  ripple  where 
the  water  was  not  more  than  six  inches  deep.  Stepping 
into  the  stream,  I  waded  noiselessly  across.  The  opposite 
bank  was  about  two  feet  high,  and  covered  with  a  willow 
thicket  thirty  feet  in  width.  Through  this  I  crawled  to 
the  opening  beyond,  where  was  the  moist  bed  of  a  former 
stream,  its  banks  lined  with  willows ;  and  in  this  half- 
enclosed  semicircle,  not  fifty  feet  distant  from  where  I 
was  lying,  stood  four  masked  men.  One  of  them  had  been 
holding  the  horses  —  four  in  number  —  while  the  others 
were  taking  observations  of  our  camp.  After  a  brief  con- 
sultation, they  hurriedly  mounted  their  horses,  and  rode 
rapidly  off  towards  Bannack.  These  men  we  afterwards 
ascertained  were  Plummer,  Stinson,  Ray,  and  Ives.  The 
fortunate  change  in  my  lodgings,  and  the  coldness  of  the 
weather,  and  consequent  sleeplessness,  saved  us  from  an 
attack  whose  consequences  may  be  better  imagined  than 
described.  We  made  the  journey  to  Salt  Lake  City  in 
safety ;  but  from  the  frequent  inquiries  made  of  us  while 
there,  concerning  others  who  had  attempted  it  before  us, 
we  concluded  that  many  had  fallen  victims  who  left  the 
mines  with  better  prospects  of  escape  than  those  which 
encouraged  us.     It  was  the  common  custom  of  Mormon 


262   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

freighters  to  extend  their  day's  journeying  far  into  the 
evening.  Plunimer  was  cognizant  of  this  fact,  and  there 
can  be  no  doubt  that  his  purpose  in  presenting  Hauser 
with  the  scarf  was,  that  he  might  single  him  out  from  the 
rest  of  the  party  after  nightfaU.  It  is  a  coincidence  that 
Plunimer  was  hanged  on  the  succeeding  anniversary  of 
Hauser's  birthday,  January  10,  1864. 

Our  trip  of  fifteen  days,  with  the  thermometer  ranging 
from  zero  to  twenty  degrees  below,  was  not  unrelieved  by 
occasional  incidents  which  we  recall  with  pleasure.  Among 
these,  of  course,  we  cannot  include  the  cold  nights  we  were 
obliged  to  pass  upon  the  frozen  earth.  But  we  found  an 
inexhaustible  store  of  amusement,  not  unmingled  with  ad- 
miration, in  the  character  of  our  Mormon  conductors. 
Simple-hearted,  affable,  and  unsophisticated,  with  bigot 
faith  in  their  creed,  studious  observance  of  its  require- 
ments, and  constant  reliance  upon  it  both  for  assistance 
in  difficulty  and  pastime,  they  afforded  in  all  their  actions 
a  singular  contrast  as  well  to  the  unregenerate  Gentiles, 
as  to  the  believers  among  older  sects.  They  were  not 
only  sincere  in  their  belief,  they  were  enthusiastic.  It 
wds  the  single  element  which  governed  their  lives :  they 
idolized  it,  and  neither  reason,  which  they  at  once  rejected, 
nor  ridicule,  which  they  silently  abhorred,  could  shake 
their  religious  credulity.  We  engaged  in  frequent  discus- 
sions with  them,  prolonging  the  evening  camp-fire  sittings 
with  arguments  which  broke  like  the  waves  of  a  summer 
sea  upon  tlie  rock  of  simple  faith.  Theology  with  them 
was  restricted  to  the  revelations  of  Joseph  Smith,  and  the 
counsels  of  Brigham  Young.  Tiiose  contained  the  precious 
elements  of  their  belief. 

While  passing  over  one  of  the  divides,  I  recited  to  Hau- 
ser witli  such  marked  emphasis  as  I  could  command,  Mil- 
ton's description  of  "  the  meeting  of  Satan  and  Death  at 
the  gates  of  Hell."    Tin*  stirring  passage  immediately  ah- 


JOURNEY  TO  SALT  LAKE        263 

sorbcd  the  attention  of  our  IVIormon  driver.  The  serious 
cast  of  his  features  during  the  recitation  attracted  our  at- 
tention ;  and  soon  after  we  had  camped  for  the  night, 
while  supper  was  in  the  course  of  preparation,  he  was 
heard  to  remark  to  a  brother  teamster, 

"  I  tell  3'ou,  the  j'oungest  of  those  men  in  my  wagon, 
the  one  that  always  carries  that  double-barrelled  shot- 
gun, is  a  powerful  talker.  I  heard  him  harangue  t'other 
one  to-day  for  half  an  hour,  and  he  talked  mighty  fine. 
He  can  overlay  Orson  Hyde  and  Parley  Pratt,  both,  and  I 
rather  think  it  would  trouble  Brigham  Young  to  say  nicer 
things.  And  after  all,  he  had  pretty  much  the  same  ideas 
that  we  have."  Evidently,  the  man  had  regarded  the  reci- 
tation and  its  delivery  as  an  impromptu  exercise. 

When  the  labor  of  the  day  was  over,  and  they  were 
seated  around  the  evening  camp-fire,  their  thoughts  were 
engrossed  with  matters  appertaining  to  their  religion. 
Temporal  cares  were  seemingly  forgotten.  Fully  in- 
structed in  the  doctrinal  points  of  their  faith,  they  readily 
met  and  disposed  of  our  arguments  upon  principles  fa- 
miliar to  all  Christian  denominations.  The  golden  plates 
of  the  book  of  ^Mormon,  the  inspirational  powers  of  Joseph 
Smith,  the  transforming  virtues  of  the  Urim  and  Thum- 
mim,  were  as  sacred  in  their  creed  as  the  miracles  of  the 
Saviour.  No  argument  could  shake  their  confidence  in 
Brigham  Young,  whom  they  regarded  as  the  vicegerent  of 
the  Almighty  himself.  This  belief  was  sanctified  by  an 
immutable  promise,  that  the  time  would  come  when  the 
Mormon  religion  would  embrace  the  whole  family  of  man. 
When  we  spoke  lightly  of  these  things,  or  expressed  doubt 
concerning  them,  they  reproved  us  kindly,  and  expressed 
their  regret  at  our  stubbornness  and  impiety.  These  dis- 
cussions, which  were  frequent,  and  indulged  in  more  for 
pastime  than  instruction,  convinced  us  of  the  sincerity  of 
the  Mormons  as  a  people.     They  believe  with  enthusiasm 


204  VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 


too,  and  among  thcni  may  doubtless  be  found  many  who 
would  suffer  martyrdom  as  readily  as  did  Ridky  and  Lati- 
mer, for  the  precious  promises  of  their  faith.  Often  when 
not  occupied  in  discussion,  they  would  all  join  in  singing 
a  religious  hymn.  A  verse  from  the  one  which  most  fre- 
quently taxed  their  vocal  powers,  I  well  remember : 

"  Brigh.im  Young  is  the  Lion  of  the  Lord. 
He  's  the  Prophet  and  revealer  of  his  word. 
He  's  the  mouth-piece  of  God  unto  all  mankind. 
And  lie  rules  by  the  power  of  the  Word.  " 

Sometimes   they   would  unite  in   a   household   song  —  the, 
leader,  representing  the  head  of  the  family,  commencing,] 

"  The  Mormon  man  delights  to  see 
His  Mormon  family  all  agree; 
His  prattling  infant  on  his  knee, 
Crying,  '  Daddy,  Lm  a  Mormon.'  " 

Then  all  would  join  in  the  chorus,  as  the  representa- 
tives of  the  female  part  of  the  household, 

"  Hey,  the  happy  !     Ho,  the  hapjiy  ! 
Hi,  the  Iiapjiv  Mormon  ! 
I've  never  known  what  sorrow  is. 
Since  I  became  a  Mormon," 

occasionally  varying  it  thus, 

"  Hey,  the  happy!     Ho,  the  happy! 
Hi.  the  happy  Mormon! 
I  never  knew  what  joy  was, 
Till  I  became  a  Mormon" 

—  the  word  "joy"  being  divided  in  the  singing  to 
"  jaw-wy,"  to  accommodate  the  metre. 

On  the  evening  of  the  day  before  we  entered  the  Mor- 
mon settlements,  the  leading  man  of  the  company  beck- 
oned me  aside,  and  referred  to  our  trip  down,  which  he 
said  had  been  a  pleasant  one. 


f 


f 


JOURNEY  TO  SALT  LAKE        265 

"  Wc  have  had,"  said  he,  "  some  warm  discussions  about 
our  religion,  and  you  gentlemen,  as  our  boys  think,  have 
been  rather  hard  on  us.  But  the  journey  is  now  about 
over,  and  we  '11  not  mind  it.  I  sought  this  opportunity, 
however,  to  give  you  a  word  of  caution,  for  I  feel  friendly 
to  you.  While  you  are  at  Salt  I^akc  City  you  must  n't 
talk  as  you  have  to  us." 

"Why.?"  I  inquired. 

"  Because  they  don't  allow  it.  Were  you  ever  at  Salt 
Lake  City.?" 

"  No." 

"  Well,  you  '11  find  out  when  you  get  there  how  it  is. 
They  are  very  severe  upon  people  who  talk  as  you  have 
talked  to  us.  Should  you  do  it,  you  may  be  assured  you  'il 
never  leave  the  city  alive.  I  thought  I'd  put  you  on  your 
guard."     As  he  left  me,  he  added, 

"  Don't  say  a  word  to  the  boys  about  what  I  've  told 
you,  but  keep  an  eye  to  your  conduct.  If  the  bishop  knew 
I  had  told  you  this,  it  would  go  hard  with  me." 

Thanking  him  for  the  advice,  we  soon  after  separated ; 
and  on  our  arrival  at  Salt  Lake  City,  a  day  or  two  after- 
wards, in  conversation  with  a  leading  Mormon  with  whom 
we  had  business,  we  told  him  of  the  advice  we  had  received, 
without  committing  our  friend  by  name. 

"  That  was  good  advice,"  he  replied,  with  a  significant 
nod,  "  and  if  adhered  to  will  keep  you  out  of  trouble." 


CHAPTER   XXVII  . 

COLONEL  SANDERS  AND  GALLAGHER 

ON  tlie  (lay  of  the  departure  of  Hauser  and  myself  for 
Salt  Lake  City,  as  described  in  the  preceding  chap- 
ter, an  episode  occurred  affecting  Colonel  Sanders,  which 
illustrates  in  some  degree  the  condition  of  society  at  that 
time. 

During  the  day  a  number  of  young  men  of  Bannack 
City,  all  known  in  the  town,  and  some  living  there,  saddled 
their  horses  and  rode  from  saloon  to  saloon,  indulging  in 
drink,  and  otherwise  busying  themselves  until  about  three 
o'clock  P.M.     Among  these  was  Plummer. 

Vague  rumors  had  been  extant  for  some  time,  that  there 
were  in  this  portion  of  Idaho  (now  Montana),  quartz  lodes 
of  silver;  but  none  up  to  this  time  had  been  discovered,  or, 
if  discovered,  the  fact  had  not  been  made  known  publicly. 
A  number  of  quartz  lodes  of  gold  of  very  considerable 
value  had  been  recorded,  but  they  were  considered  in  the 
popular  mind  as  of  secondary  value.  The  "  Comstock 
Lode  "  was  at  this  time  pouring  forth  its  treasures;  silver 
had  not  fallen  under  the  ban  which  subsequently  environed  i 
it,  and  there  was  a  great  eagerness  on  the  part  of  miners 
and  other  citizens  to  accjuire  interests  in  silver  mines. 

It  was  apparent  that  the  horsemen  on  the  streets  were 
making  ready  for  some  journey  into  the  country,  and  itt 
took  but  a  moment   to  arouse  suspicion  that   they   knew, 
where  these   reported  silver  mines  were,  and  were  going; 
out  to  organize  a  mining  district,  and  record  the  claims. 

Col.  Samuel  McLean,  the  first  delegate  in  Congress  from 

266 


SANDERS  AND  GALLAGHER  267 

Montana,  who  had  an  eager  eye  for  mines,  and  an  equally 
eager  desire  to  obtain  them,  told  Colonel  Sanders  that  un- 
questionably the  hope  of  tlicse  men  was  to  record  the  silver 
mines  already  discovered,  and  was  quite  anxious  that  he 
should  accompany  the  party. 

In  response  to  this  request.  Colonel  Sanders  volunteered 
to  ascertain  whether  this  was  the  errand  of  this  party  or 
not,  and  at  once  proceeded  to  find  Plummer,  and  interro- 
gate him  as  to  his  destination. 

Plummer  professed  to  be  on  some  errand  for  the  public 
good  —  rescuing  a  herd  of  horses  belonging  to  citizens, 
from  Indian  thieves,  who,  he  said,  would  certainly  make 
way  with  them,  unless  they  were  at  once  taken  charge  of 
by  himself. 

Colonel  Sanders  was  incredulous  as  to  this  story,  and 
so  expressed  himself  to  Mr.  Plummer,  saying  that  he  was 
satisfied  that  the  party  were  going  to  the  new  silver  mines, 
with  the  purpose  of  staking  them  off  and  recording  them. 
Plummer  denied  any  such  destination,  or,  at  least,  said 
if  that  was  the  intention  of  his  colleagues,  he  had  no  knowl- 
edge of  it,  and  that  if  such  should  turn  out  to  be  the  case, 
contrary  to  his  expectations,  he  would  cheerfully  secure 
for  Colonel  Sanders  a  claim.  To  this  It  was  replied  that 
his  party  might  object  to  his  securing  a  claim  for  an 
absentee,  and  the  colonel  expressed  a  purpose  to  accom- 
pany the  party.  Plummer  cordially  Invited  him  to  do  so, 
probably  knowing  that  there  was  not  a  horse  In  any  of  the 
stables  In  town  that  was  obtainable  for  such  a  journey; 
but  suddenly  reflecting  upon  the  matter,  he  replied  that 
there  was  no  such  errand  In  view,  and  If  his  comrades  ob- 
jected to  his  obtaining  a  claim  for  Colonel  Sanders  be- 
cause he  was  an  absentee,  he  would  very  cheerfully  convey 
his  own  to  him,  saying  that  he  could  obtain  quartz  lode 
claims  whenever  he  so  desired. 

With  this  understanding,  which  Colonel  Sanders  sought 


268    VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

to  impress  upon  his  mind  so  that  he  would  not  forget  it,i 
tlie  pjirty,  in  knots  of  two  and  four,  left  the  town  in  ar 
easterly  direction  towards  the  point  where  Plunnner  hac 
stated  they  were  going  that  evening,  which  was  about  fif- 
teen miles  distant,  and  where  he  said  they  would  remaii 
over-night  at  the  ranche  of  Parish,  Bunton  and  Co.,  oi 
Rattlesnake  Creek,  and  the  next  morning  would  proceed  tc 
obtain  the  horses  that  were  in  such  danger  of  being  stolen.1 

This  ranche  was  perhaps  the  best  known  of  any  in  the 
Beaverhead  country  at  this  time.  Plummer  himself  had 
denounced  its  proprietors  as  cattle  thieves,  and  had  threat- 
ened to  have  them  arrested  for  that  high  crime,  but  had 
never  done  so.  At  this  particular  time  the  senior  member 
of  the  firm  was  sick  with  fever,  and  it  was  thought  that 
he  could  not  long  survive. 

The  morning  coach  which  had  brought  Plunmier  and  the 
other  passengers  from  Virginia  City,  had  also  brought 
one  Dr.  Palmer,  a  medical  practitioner  at  \'irglnia  Cit\, 
who  had  been  sent  for  to  attend  Mr.  Parish. 

The  wife  of  Parish  was  a  Bannack  squaw;  and  Plum- 
mer had  stated  that  he  had  examined  Parish  when  at  his 
ranche  In  the  morning,  and  had  concluded  that  he  could 
not  survive  more  than  a  day  or  two,  and  that,  the  instant 
he  (lied,  his  wife  would  take  all  the  horses  belonging  to  par- 
ties for  whom  Parish,  Bunton  and  Co.  were  keeping  them, 
and  would  join  her  tribe  on  the  west  of  the  mountain> 
near  Fort  Liinhi ;  and  in  order  to  save  these  horses  for  the 
owners,  it  was  necessary  that  the  sheriff  should  proceed 
to  take  them  on  general  principles,  and  without  any  writ 
for  that  purpose. 

Never   doubting  but    that    Plummer    was    relating   tha 
truth,  the  people  of  Bannack  saw  his  party  quietly  climb 
the  i-astern  hill,  and  disappear  over  one  of  Its  declivities. 
A    single    member,    delayed    from    some    cause    or    other, 
lingered  behind  in   the  town. 


SANDERS  AND  GALLAGHER  269 

After  the  party  had  left  town,  several  gentlemen  sug- 
gested to  Colonel  Sanders  that  he  should  endeavor  to  over- 
take them,  and  volunteered  to  furnish  a  horse  and  saddle 
if  he  would  do  so,  with  a  view  to  obtaining  for  himself 
and  themselves,  if  possible,  some  interest  in  the  silver 
quartz  mines  which  they  believed  would  the  next  morning 
be  staked  off  and  recorded. 

Colonel  Sanders  proceeded  to  his  house,  took  the  in- 
evitable accompaniments  of  a  traveller,  his  blankets,  robes, 
revolvers,  etc.,  and  returned  to  the  town,  where  a  some- 
what diminutive  mule,  saddled  and  bridled  and  ready  for 
the  fray,  was  presented  to  him  for  his  journey.  Mounting 
the  animal,  he  started  on  the  trail  of  the  party,  who  had 
one  hour  or  more  the  start  of  him,  on  his  way  to  Rattle- 
snake ranche,  the  property  of  Parish,  Bunton  and  Co. 

The  mule  at  times  was  recalcitrant  in  the  early  part  of 
the  journey,  but  finally  settled  down  and  jogged  along  at 
a  mild  speed  towards  his  destination. 

Tracks  of  the  horsemen  were  plainly  discernible  in  the 
road  until  he  reached  a  point  near  the  summit  of  the  range 
of  mountains  between  the  Grasshopper  and  Rattlesnake, 
when  they  disappeared. 

Upon  arriving  at  the  top  of  the  hill,  as  is  not  unusual 
on  the  top  of  these  mountain  ranges,  a  snow  storm  burst 
upon  the  lone  traveller,  accompanied  by  a  high  wind,  and 
in  half  an  hour  the  disintegrated  granite  in  the  road,  which 
was  dry,  mixed  with  the  snow  so  as  to  cause  the  mule  to 
accumulate  on  his  hoofs  large  quantities  of  the  dust  and 
snow,  to  such  an  extent  as  to  make  speed  impossible,  and 
travelling  very  difficult. 

The  colonel  dismounted  and  drove  his  mule  in  front  of 
him,  eight  miles,  to  the  ranche,  where  he  confidently  ex- 
pected to  find  a  good-natured,  hilarious  crowd  spending 
the  evening.  Judge  of  his  surprise,  when  he  entered  the 
room,  to  find  the  only  person  in  it  was  Erastus  Yager, 


270   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

whose  actual  name  not  one  in  a  thousand  knew,  but  who 
was  universally  known  as  "  Red."  He  was  the  Boniface 
and  major-domo  of  the  place. 

To  the  inquiry,  "  Where  is  Plummer?  "  he  replied  that 
he  was  not  there,  and  had  not  been  there ;  and  so,  after 
reflecting  a  moment,  the  colonel  had  his  mule  put  in  the 
corral.  He  then  sat  down  by  the  side  of  a  very  cheerful 
fire,  made  of  the  dry  cottonwood  obtainable  not  far  dis- 
tant, which  blazed  in  a  very  ample  fireplace  such  as  in 
modem  times  is  practically  unknown,  beguiling  his  dis-| 
appointment  as  best  he  could. 

Dr.  Palmer  was  already  asleep  in  the  room,  so  the  col-J 
oncl  unrolled  his  blankets,  preparatory  to  making  his  bee 
on  the  floor,  whereupon  Yager  invited  him  to  sleep  on  th« 
bed,  a  straw  tick  filled  with  swale  grass,  quite  ample  ir 
its  size,  lying  upon  the  floor  in  front  of  the  fire;  andj 
accepting  this  hospitable  offer,  he  spread  his  blankets  or 
the  tick,  and  in  a  few  moments  had  retired. 

William  Bunton,  one  of  the  proprietors  of  the  estal 
lishmcnt,  appeared  from  the  back  room  where  his  partnei 
lay  ill,  and  retired  also  upon  the  straw  tick,  and  shortlj 
after  Yager  followed  suit,  when  the  three,  in  one  bee 
were  all  soon  in  a  sound  sleep. 

About  two  hours  after  they  had  retired,  a  boisterou^ 
noise  was  made  upon  the  door  by  some  individual  wh< 
was  outside,  who  also  hallooed  as  loud  as  he  could  for  ad^j 
mittance. 

Yager  got  out  of  bed  and  proceeded  around  to  the  bad 
of  the  bar  where  the  liquid  refreshments,  so  called,  wei 
dispensed,  and  lighted  a  candle,  and  taking  in  his  hands 
a  large  shotgun  which  stood  in  the  corner,  started  to  the 
door  and  demanded  to  know  who  was  there.  After  some 
hesitancy,  he  was  told  it  was  "  Jack,"  whereupon  he  pro- 
ceeded to  take  down  the  bar  that  was  across  the  door  and 
so  fastened  at  each  eiul  as  to  effectually  serve  tlie  purpose 


J 


SANDERS  AND  GALLAGHER  271 

of  a  lock.  He  then  opened  the  door,  and  in  stalked  a 
member  of  Plummer's  party,  the  one  who  had  remained  in 
town  behind  the  rest,  and  known  all  over  that  mining  coun- 
try as  "  Jack  "  Gallagher. 

He  was  in  very  ill-humor.  He  had  been  looking  for  his 
party,  and  had  been  disappointed  in  not  finding  them, 
finally  seeking  shelter  from  the  storm  at  the  Rattlesnake 
ranche. 

He  said  the  snow  had  so  covered  the  road  that  it  could 
not  be  distinguished.  He  had  been  lost  on  the  prairie  and 
finally  found  the  Rattlesnake.  He  had  ridden  up  and 
down  the  valle}'  a  number  of  miles  and  failed  to  find  the 
ranche.     He  complained  that  the}'  had  lio  light  burning. 

He  said  he  was  very  hungry  and  that  he  wanted  a  drink. 
A  bottle  was  set  out  for  him,  and  he  imbibed  pretty  freely 
once  or  twice.  He  then  wanted  something  to  eat  without 
delay.  He  was  informed  that  there  was  nothing  to  eat  in 
the  house,  that  the  lady  of  the  house  had  all  she  could 
do  to  take  care  of  her  husband,  who  was  very  ill  and  who 
would  not  probably  recover,  and  that  they  were  not  pre- 
pared to  entertain  guests. 

He  expressed  an  entire  indifference  to  the  misfortunes  of 
the  household,  and  said  he  must  have  something  to  eat  if 
it  was  no  more  than  some  bread,  and  became  so  importu- 
nate that  Yager  went  to  the  back  part  of  the  house,  and 
soon  returned  with  a  large  tin  pan  partially  filled  with 
boiled  beef.  The  pan  was  placed  upon  the  bar,  and  Galla- 
gher did  ample  justice  to  its  contents,  refreshing  himself 
from  time  to  time  by  frequent  libations  from  the  bottle 
of  whiskey. 

He  told  Yager  that  he  could  not  stop  all  night,  but 
must  find  his  party.  He  thought  it  would  be  necessary 
for  him  to  have  a  fresh  horse,  and  he  wanted  to  trade  a 
very  excellent  animal  which  he  had  ridden  to  the  ranche 
for  a  fresh  one. 


272   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 


Yager  tlicrcupon  told  him  that  he  had  no  horse  to  trade, 
but  Jack  affirimd  that  lie  had,  and  furthermore  insisted 
that  he  should  accommodate  him  by  trading. 

Their  wrangling  had  awakened  Colonel  Sanders,  and 
also  Mr.  Bunton,  who  finally  called  Yager  to  the  bedside 
and  told  him  to  trade  off  that  horse  of  Oliver's  that  was  in 
the  corral,  if  Jack  would  have  a  horse  trade. 

The  importunities  of  Gallagher  for  a  fresh  horse  were 
continuous ;  and  finally  Yager  coyly  confessed  that  they 
did  have  a  horse  in  the  corral,  which  was  not  such  a  horse 
as  Gallagher  wanted,  and  one  that  they  did  not  desire  to 
get  rid  of,  being  a  favorite  animal  for  riding, —  not  spe- 
cially desirable  for  its  speed,  but  for  wonderful  bottom, 
able  to  travel  a  hundred  miles  iu  a  day,  and  after  bein^ 
turned  out  at  night,  it  would  be  ready  for  a  like  journey] 
the  next  day.     In  fact,  it  was  so  good  a  horse  that  Yagei 
wanted  it  for  his  own  use,  and  it  was  not  for  sale, —  mucl 
less  did  he  desire  to  trade  it  for  as  poor  a  horse  as  the  on( 
Gallagher  had   ridden  there   (which  in   truth  was   a  very! 
noble  animal). 

After  a  great  deal  of  negotiating  and  a  good  man^ 
drinks,  Gallagher  agreed  to  pay  sixty  dollars  to  boot,  an< 
they  consummated  the  trade. 

Colonel  Sanders  had  been  very  nnich  disappointed  at 
not  finding  the  party  he  was  in  search  of,  and  having  an 
opportunity  at  the  close  of  the  horse  trade,  he  inquired] 
of  Gallagher  if  he  knew  where  Pknnmer  was.  It  seemedj 
to  him  a  harmless  question,  and  he  did  not  expect  any  on< 
would  become  excited  by  so  simple  an  inquiry,  as  he  lay  on] 
his  l)ack  on  the  straw  tick. 

The  instant  the  (juestion  was  asked,  Gallagher  jumped! 
from  the  bar  where  ho  was  standing  to  the  side  of  the  bed,] 
and  jiineed  his  cocked  revolver  at  the  colonel's  head,  all' 
the  wjiile  hurling  imprecations  upon  him,  and  threatening 
to  "  shoot   the  whole  top  of  his  head  off." 


I 


SANDERS  AND  GALLAGHER  273 

The  result,  for  the  instant,  upon  the  colonel  is  de- 
scribed by  himself  as  being  very  peculiar.  He  said  he 
could  count  each  particular  hair  in  his  head,  and  that  it 
felt  like  the  quill  of  a  porcupine.  Not  enjoying  the  situa- 
tion, he  made  a  quick  movement,  getting  his  head  out  of 
range  of  Gallagher's  revolver,  and  springing  to  his  feet, 
in  an  instant  was  behind  the  bar,  where  "  Red  "  was  stand- 
ing. Sanders  seized  the  shotgun  which  was  used  by  Yager 
in  admitting  his  guests  in  the  night,  and  levelled  it  across 
the  bar  directly  at  Gallagher.  The  opportunity  which  had 
been  afforded  Gallagher  to  shoot  Sanders  had  not  been 
improved  by  him  till  it  was  too  late ;  and  as  soon  as  the 
gun  was  aimed  at  him,  with  an  air  of  bravado  he  placed 
his  revolver  on  a  pine  table  that  stood  near  him,  the  nor- 
mal use  of  which  was  card-playing,  and  pulling  aside  his 
blue  soldier's  overcoat  which  he  wore,  he  said,  "  Shoot." 

Colonel  Sanders  replied  that  he  had  no  desire  to  shoot, 
but  if  there  were  any  shooting  to  be  done,  he  did  desire  to 
have  the  first  shot. 

At  this  somewhat  exciting  stage  of  the  game,  Bunton, 
who  had  hitherto  kept  silence,  reprimanded  the  actors 
in  this  little  drama  somewhat  severely,  saying  that  his 
partner  was  at  the  point  of  death  in  the  back  room,  and 
he  would  not  have  any  noise  in  the  house. 

Yager  also  joined  in  the  conversation,  and  deprecated 
any  such  difficulty,  saying  to  Gallagher  that  he  was  blam- 
able  for  having  been  the  cause  of  the  disturbance,  Galla- 
gher meanwhile  standing  with  his  coat  open,  as  if  waiting 
to  be  shot  doAvn. 

Yager  continued  his  suave  and  conciliatory  remarks  to 
Gallagher,  and  said  finally  that  he  thought  Jack  owed 
Sanders  an  apology,  and  that  all  had  better  take  a  drink. 

A  double-barrelled  shotgun  is  a  powerful  factor  in  an 
argument;  its  logic  is  irresistible  and  convincing;  and 
under  its  influence  Jack  finally  relented,  and  said  that  he 


274   VIGILAME  DAYS  xVXD  WAYS 

guessed  he  had  made  a  fool  of  himself,  and  invited  the 
colonel,  who  up  to  this  time  had  maintained  a  position  of 
hostility,  to  have  a  drink;  but,  becoming  satisfied  of  the 
sincerity  of  Gallagher's  assurances,  he  placed  the  shotgun 
behind  the  bar,  and  the  entire  party  joined  in  a  pledge  of 
amity  over  a  bottle  of  "  Valley  Tan,"  a  liquor  well  known 
throughout  the  mountains,  and  a  production  of  the  Mor- 
mons of  Salt  Lake  Valley. 

Some  controversy  then  arose  as  to  who  should  pay  for 
the  liquor.  Yager  claimed  the  privilege,  but  Gallagher 
said  it  was  liis  row,  and  it  should  be  his  treat,  and  that 
the  man  who  would  n't  drink  witii  him  was  no  friend  of 
his.  The  affair  was  finally  compromised  by  allowing  Galla- 
gher to  order  another  bottle  of  "  Valley  Tan,"  and  the 
actors  in  this  scene  dared  fate  by  taking  another  drink. 
This  was,  doubtless,  the  easiest  method  of  settling  the 
difficulty  and  appeasing  the  wrath  of  Gallagher;  and  my 
readers  will  doubtless  agree  with  me  in  thinking  that  the 
circumstances  of  duress  which  surrounded  Sanders  ought 
not  to  impair  his  standing  as  a  Son  of  Temperance. 

After  this  renewed  pledge  of  friendship  between  all  the 
parties.  Yager  and  Gallagher  withdrew  to  exchange 
horses,  and  in  a  few  moments  the  latter  was  on  the  road  in 
pursuit  of  his  comrades.  Yager  returned  to  bed,  and  all 
at  the  ranche  were  soon  sound  asleep.  About  two  hours 
thereafter,  there  was  heard  another  tumultuous  rapping 
at  the  door,  and  the  voice  of  somebody,  seemingly  very  an- 
gry, demanding  admittance.  Yager  exercised  the  same 
precaution  as  before,  with  his  light  and  gun,  and  finally 
opened  the  door,  when  in  came  Jack  Gallagher,  with  his 
saddle,  bridle,  blankets,  and  shotgun,  and  threw  them  all 
down  upon  the  floor,  saying  that  he  had  been  lost  since 
he  left  the  ranche,  that  his  horse  was  not  good  for  any- 
thing, and  he  wanted  the  fire  built  up. 

He  WHS  accommodated;  and  as  there  was  not  room  for 


SANDERS  AND  GALLAGHER  275 

more  than  three  on  the  bed,  he  spread  his  bhinkcts  on  the 
floor  at  its  foot,  in  front  of  the  fire,  and  soon  all  were 
asleep  once  more.  However,  they  were  not  destined  to 
enjoy  this  peace  very  long,  for  shortly  after  they  had  all 
dropped  asleep,  there  came  still  another  commotion  at 
the  door.  Yager  arose,  armed  himself  once  more,  and  go- 
ing to  the  door  demanded  to  know  what  was  wanted.  It 
proved  to  be  Leonard  A.  Gridlcy  and  George  M.  Brown, 
from  Bannack.  They  inquired  for  Colonel  Sanders,  and 
being  informed  that  he  was  there,  and  invited  in,  they 
declined,  and  asked  that  he  come  out. 

The  colonel  went  out  and  joined  the  two  men,  when  he 
was  told  that  they  had  been  sent  by  his  wife  to  ascertain 
his  whereabouts  and  bring  him  home;  and  they  related  to 
him  the  events  now  to  follow. 

On  the  morning  of  the  preceding  day,  a  young  man 
named  Henry  Tilden,  who  had  accompanied  Chief  Justice 
Edgerton  and  Colonel  Sanders  from  their  homes  in  Ohio 
to  Bannack  City,  had  been  sent  to  Horse  Prairie,  ten  miles 
south  of  Bannack,  to  gather  together  a  herd  of  cattle 
owned  by  them  and  to  drive  the  same  into  town. 

It  was  rather  late  when  he  left  Bannack,  and  as  the 
cattle  were  somewhat  scattered,  night  came  upon  him 
before  he  had  got  them  all  together.  He  therefore  put 
those  he  had  found  in  a  corral,  and  having  decided  to  go 
to  the  town  and  spend  the  night,  and  return  the  next  day 
to  find  the  rest,  he  started  in  the  darkness  for  Bannack. 

He  was  a  young  man  used  to  quiet  and  peace,  and 
wholly  untrained  in  the  experiences  he  was  about  to  un- 
dergo. Midway  between  Horse  Prairie  Creek  and  Ban- 
nack, as  he  was  riding  along  at  a  gallop,  he  saw  in  front 
of  him  several  horsemen.  He  was  somewhat  startled,  as 
he  was  not  prepared  to  meet  men  under  such  conditions 
and  in  such  a  country.  He  gathered  courage  as  he  rode, 
and  proceeded  along  the  highway  until  he  came  up  with 


270   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

the  liorsemt-n,  who  produced  their  revolvers  and  told  him 
to  throw  up  his  hands  and  dismount,  a  request  with  which 
he  quickly  complied,  notwithstanding  the  impolite  man- 
ner in  which  it  was  conveyed.  They  "  went  through  "  his 
pockets,  he  meanwhile  maintaining  a  very  awkward  posi- 
tion with  his  hands  in  the  air  above  his  head.  Finding 
nothing,  they  told  him  to  mount  his  horse  and  proceed  on 
his  way,  telling  him  further  that  if  he  ever  dared  to  open 
his  mouth  about  the  circumstance,  he  would  be  murdered, 
or,  in  their  expressive  language,  they  would  "  blow  the  top 
of  his  head  off." 

The  young  man  started  towards  Bannack,  and  as  soon 
as  he  was  out  of  sight  of  the  robbers,  rode  his  horse  at 
its  utmost  speed. 

He  finally  reached  Colonel  Sanders's  house  on  what 
was  known  as  "  Yankee  Flat,"  not,  however,  until  he  had 
been  thrown  from  his  horse,  while  crossing  a  mining  ditch, 
and  had  lain  on  the  ground  for  a  period  of  time  which  he 
could  not  himself  determine,  being  unconscious. 

He  told  his  story  of  having  met  the  robbers,  and  fur- 
ther stated  that  he  knew  the  parties  who  had  "  held  him 
up,"  particularly  one  of  them,  who  had  held  a  revolver 
at  his  head  and  who  seemed  to  be  a  leader  among  them, 
and  this  man  was  Henry  Plummer. 

Mrs.  Sanders  then  went  with  him  to  the  house  of  Chief 
Justice  Fdgerton,  where  he  related  again  the  story  of  his 
meeting  the  highwaymen,  and  was  cautioned  to  say  noth- 
ing about  it. 

As  the  party  whom  Colonel  Sanders  had  started  to  find 
and  travel  with  had  been  found  going  in  an  opposite  direc- 
tion, and  engaged  as  highway  robbers,  it  naturally  excited 
and  alarmed  his  family,  and  the  result  was  that  they,  find- 
ing a  team  which  had  come  into  town  late  that  night,  pro- 
cured the  horses,  and  mounted  Gridley  and  Brown  and 
sent  them  to  the  Rattlesnake  ranche  to  find  the  colonel. 


SANDERS  AND  GALLAGHER  277 

The  next  morning  Plunimcr  and  all  the  men  who  had  gone 
with  him  were  in  town,  appearing  as  unconcerned  as  if 
nothing  unusual  had  occurred. 

Colonel  Sanders  did  not  at  first  share  Tilden's  belief 
concerning  the  personnel  of  the  troop  of  robbers  and  his 
identification  of  Plununer,  but  nevertheless,  as  a  precau- 
tionary measure,  he  admonished  Tilden  not  to  communicate 
his  beliefs  to  any  one,  assuring  him  that  if  his  con- 
jectures were  correct,  and  an  expression  of  them  should 
ever  reach  Plummer's  ears,  it  would  go  hard  with  him. 
Two  or  three  days  thereafter,  Plummer  approached  Til- 
den, and  gazing  fixedly  upon  him,  abruptly  asked  if  he 
had  any  clew  by  which  the  robbers  could  be  identified. 
Tilden,  though  greatly  frightened  by  this  inquiry,  gave 
him  an  answer  which  allayed  whatever  suspicion  the  wary 
robber  might  have  entertained.  But  Tilden  himself,  in 
relating  the  incident  to  his  friends,  never  wavered  in  his 
convictions.  There  were  many  among  the  better  class  of 
citizens  of  Bannack  who  had  for  a  long  time  suspected 
Plummer,  and  believed  him  to  have  been  engaged  in  nu- 
merous murders  and  highway  robberies,  which  were  of 
such  frequent  occurrence  as  to  scarcely  cause  comment; 
and  when  it  was  determined  on  the  afternoon  of  January 
10,  186-i,  that  Plummer  should  be  hanged,  Tilden  was 
sent  for  and  related  his  story  in  detail,  which  convinced 
all  who  heard  it  of  Plummer's  guilt. 

Within  sixty  days  after  Colonel  Sanders's  adventure 
at  the  Rattlesnake  ranche,  he  was  the  sole  survivor  of 
the  party  there  assembled,  the  others  having  been  executed 
by  the  Vigilance  Committee,  and  Plummer  and  his  asso- 
ciates in  the  attempted  robbery  of  Hauser  and  myself  had 
met  the  same  fate. 

But  little  is  known  of  Gallagher's  early  history.  He 
was  born  near  Ogdensburg,  New  York.  He  was  at  Iowa 
Point,  Doniphan  County,  Kansas,  in  October,  1859,  and 


278   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

in  Denver  from  1862  till  early  in  1863.  At  this  latter 
place  he  killed  a  man  in  an  affray,  and  fled,  next  making 
his  appearance  in  the  Beaverhead  mines.  During  the 
Summer  of  1863,  he  shot  at  and  badly  wounded  a  black- 
smith by  the  name  of  Temple,  for  interfering  to  prevent 
a  dog-fight.  After  this  he  became  uneasy,  and  finally  dt- 
termined  upon  leaving  the  country,  and  started  for  Utah. 
On  the  Dry  Creek  divide  he  met  George  Ives,  who  per- 
suaded him  to  return  to  Virginia  City,  and  join  Plum- 
mer's  band. 


CHAPTER   XXVIII 

ROBBERY  OF  MOODY'S  TRAIN 

ONE  cold  morning,  a  few  days  after  the  attempted 
robbery  of  Mr.  Hauscr  and  the  writer,  a  train  of 
three  wagons,  with  a  pack-train  in  company,  left  Virginia 
City  for  Salt  Lake  City.  iNIilton  S.  Moody,  the  owner  of 
the  wagons,  had  been  engaged  in  freighting  between  the 
latter  place  and  the  mines  ever  since  their  first  discovery. 
His  route  on  the  present  trip  lay  through  Black  Tail  Deer, 
Beaverhead,  and  Dry  Creek  caiions,  so  named  after  the 
several  streams  by  which  they  are  traversed.  Bannack 
was  left  twenty  miles  to  the  right  of  the  southern  angle 
in  the  road  at  Beaverhead  Canon,  and  except  three  or 
four  ranches,  there  were  no  settlers  on  the  route. 

Among  the  packers  were  Messrs.  John  McCormick,  M. 
T.  Jones,  William  Sloan,  John  S.  Rockfellow,  J.  M.  Boze- 
man,  ^lelanchthon  Forbes,  and  Henry  Branson, —  ener- 
getic business  men,  who  had  accumulated  a  considerable 
amount  in  gold  dust,  which  they  took  with  them  to  make 
payments  to  Eastern  creditors.  Buckskin  sacks,  contain- 
ing about  eighty  thousand  dollars,  were  distributed  in 
cantinas  through  the  entire  pack-train,  no  one  pair  of 
cantinas  containing  a  very  large  sum.  Besides  this 
amount,  there  was  in  a  carpet-sack  in  one  of  the  wagons, 
fifteen  hundred  dollars  in  treasury  notes,  enclosed  in  let- 
ters to  various  persons  in  the  States,  and  sent  by  their 
friends  and  relatives  in  the  mines. 

The  men  in  the  train  were  well  armed,  and  anticipated 
an  attack  by  the  robbers  at  some  point  on  the  route,  but 

279 


280   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

they  determined  upon  fighting  their  way  through.  Plum- 
nicr  hful  been  on  the  watch  for  their  departure  a  week  or 
more  Ixforu  they  left,  and  tlirough  his  spies  was  fully 
informed  of  the  amount  they  took  with  them.  He  made 
preparations  for  surprising  them  in  camp  after  nightfall, 
on  their  second  day  out,  well  knowing  that  some  would 
then  be  seated,  others  lying  around  their  camp-fires,  and 
still  others  spreading  their  blankets  for  the  night.  Two 
of  the  boldest  men  in  the  band,  John  Wagner,  known  as 
"  Dutch  John,"  and  Steve  Marshland,  were  selected  for 
the  service.  They  followed  slowly  in  track  of  the  train. 
Coming  in  sight  of  the  camp-fire  in  Black  Tail  Deer 
Canon  after  dark  on  the  evening  appointed,  they  hitched 
their  horses  in  a  thicket  at  a  convenient  distance,  and, 
with  their  double-barrelled  guns  loaded  with  buckshot, 
crawled  up,  Indian  fashion,  within  fifteen  feet  of  the  camp. 
By  the  light  of  the  fire,  they  were  enabled  to  take  a  sur- 
vey of  the  party  and  its  surroundings.  The  campers  were 
dispersed  in  little  groups  engaged  in  conversation,  ignor- 
ant of  the  approach  of  the  robbers,  but  fully  prepared  to 
meet  them.  ^Ir.  ^IcCormick,  who  had  done  some  friendly 
services  for  Ives,  was  warned  by  him,  when  on  the  eve  of 
departure,  not  to  sleep  at  all,  never  to  be  off  his  guard, 
nor  separate  from  his  comrades,  but  to  keep  close  in  cam]) 
until  after  they  had  crossed  the  range.  As  soon  as  tin 
robbers  comprehended  the  situation,  they  withdrew  to  tlv 
thicket  and  held  a  consultation.  Wagner,  the  bolder  ot 
the  two,  proposed  that  they  should  steal  again  upon  the 
campers,  select  their  men,  and  kill  four  with  their  shot- 
guns, it  being  quite  dark ;  that  they  should  then,  by  rapid 
firing,  quick  movements,  and  loud  shouting,  impress  the 
survivors  with  the  belief  that  they  were  attacked  by  a 
numerous  force  in  ambush. 

"  They  will  then,"  said  Wagner,  •"  run  away,  and  leave 
their  traps,  and  we  can  go  in  and  get  them." 


ROBBERY  OF  MOODY'S  TRAIN   281 

This  schciiR-,  noiu'  too  bold  or  hazardous  lor  Wagner 
to  undertake,  presented  a  good  man}'  embarrassments  to 
the  more  timid  nature  of  his  companion.  Bold  as  a  lion 
at  the  outset,  he  now  found  his  courage,  like  that  of  Bob 
Acres,  "  oozing  out  of  his  fingers'  ends."  The  more 
Wagner  urged  the  attack,  the  stronger  grew  his  objec- 
tions, until  at  length  he  flatly  refused,  and  the  experiment 
was  abandoned  until  the  next  morning. 

The  campers  knew  nothing  of  this.  One  by  one  they 
sank  to  rest,  and  arose  early  the  next  morning  to  pursue 
their  journey.  While  seated  around  the  camp-fire  at 
breakfast,  near  a  sharp  turn  in  the  road,  their  attention 
was  suddenly  arrested  by  a  voice  issuing  from  the  thicket, 
uttering  the  following  ominous  words : 

"  You  take  my  revolver  and  I  '11  take  yours,  and  you 
come  right  after  me." 

In  a  twinkling  every  man  sprang  for  his  gun  and  cocked 
his  revolver.  The  sharp  click,  that  "  strange  quick  jar 
upon  the  ear,"  probably  satisfied  the  robbers  that  they 
had  been  overheard,  for  in  a  few  moments  after  up  rode 
Wagner  and  Marshland,  with  their  shotguns  thrown 
across  their  saddles,  ready  for  use.  The  confused  expres- 
sion of  the  robbers  when  they  saw  that  every  man  was 
prepared  for  their  approach,  betrayed  their  criminal  de- 
signs. Recovering  themselves  in  a  moment,  Marshland, 
who  recognized  Sloan,  in  a  friendly  tone  called  out, 

"  How  do  you  do,  Mr.  Sloan  ?  " 

"  Very  well,  thank  you,"  replied  Billy,  laying  particu- 
lar stress  upon  the  complimentary  words,  the  significance 
of  which  would  have  been  more  apparent,  had  he  known 
that  Marshland's  cowardice  the  night  before  had  probably 
saved  his  life. 

The  road  agents  inquired  if  the  party  had  seen  any 
horses  running  at  large,  or  whether  they  had  any  loose 
stock  in  their  train. 


282   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

"  We  have  not,"  was  the  prompt  reply. 

"  We  were  told  by  sonic  half-breeds  we  met,"  said 
Marshland,  "  that  our  animals  were  running  with  your 
train,  and  we  rode  on,  hoping  to  find  them." 

"  It 's  a  mistake,"  was  the  answer,  "  we  have  no  horses 
but  our  own." 

With  this  assurance  the  robbers  professed  to  be  satisfied, 
and  galloped  on. 

These  successive  failures  only  strengthened  the  villains 
in  their  determination  to  rob  the  train.  They  awaited 
its  arrival  in  Red  Rock  Valley  two  days  after  leav- 
ing it,  with  the  intention  of  attacking  it  there,  at 
the  hour  of  going  into  camp.  When  near  the  sum- 
mit of  the  ridge  wliich  divides  the  waters  of  the  Red 
Rock  from  those  of  Junction  Creek,  the  packers,  accord- 
ing to  custom,  rode  on  ahead  of  the  wagons  to  select  a 
suitable  stopping-place  for  the  night.  Three  or  four  men 
only  were  left  in  charge  of  the  teams.  The  robbers  sup- 
posed that  the  treasure  was  hidden  away  in  some  of  the 
carpet-sacks  in  the  wagons,  now  near  the  top  of  the  di- 
vide. The  brisk  pace  of  the  pack-horses  soon  took  thorn 
out  of  sight  and  hearing  of  their  companions  in  the  rear. 
Assured  of  this,  the  robbers,  disguised  in  hoods  and  blan- 
kets, dashed  out  of  a  ravine  in  front  of  the  wagons,  and 
in  a  peremptory  tone,  covering  the  drivers  with  their  shot- 
guns, commanded  them  to  halt.  Gathering  the  drivers 
together,  they  ordered  them  not  to  move,  at  tlieir  peril; 
and  while  Dutch  John  sat  upon  his  horse,  with  his  gun 
aimed  at  them,  Marshland  dismounted,  and  engaged  in  a 
speedy  search  of  both  drivers  and  vehicles.  Unperceived 
by  the  robbers,  Moody  had  slipped  a  revolver  into  the  leg 
of  his  boot.  He  also  had  a  hundri'd  dollars  concealed  in 
a  pocket  of  his  shirt,  which  escaped  notice.  The  other 
drivers  had  no  money  on  their  persons.  After  disposing 
of  tlu'  men.  Marshland  wint  to  the  wagons,  where  lie  was 


ROBBERY  OF  MOODY'S  TRAIN  283 

fortunate  enough  to  find  the  carpet-sack  containing  the 
letters  in  which  were  enclosed  the  fifteen  hundred  dollars 
in  greenbacks.  Pocketing  this,  and  still  intent  upon  find- 
ing the  gold,  he  proceeded  to  the  rear  wagon,  which  fortu- 
nately was  occupied  by  Forbes  and  a  sick  comrade.  As 
soon  as  Marshland  climbed  to  the  single-tree,  Forbes,  who 
had  been  in  wait  for  him,  fired  his  revolver  through  a  hole 
in  the  curtain,  wounding  him  in  the  breast.  With  an  oath 
and  3'ell,  tlie  robber  fell  to  his  knees,  but  recovering  him- 
self, jumped  from  the  wagon,  fell  a  second  time,  regained 
his  feet,  and  ran  with  the  agility  of  a  deer  to  the  pine  for- 
est. Dutch  John's  horse,  frightened  at  the  shot,  reared 
just  as  its  rider  discharged  both  barrels  of  his  shotgun 
at  the  teamsters.  The  shot  whizzed  just  above  their  heads. 
Moody  now  drew  his  revolver  from  his  boot,  and  opened 
fire  upon  the  retreating  figure  of  Dutch  John,  the  ball 
taking  effect  in  his  shoulder.  Urging  his  horse  to  its  ut- 
most speed,  John  was  soon  beyond  reach  of  pursuit;  but 
had  Moody  followed  him  on  the  instant,  he  might  have 
brought  him  down.  The  packers  who  had  gone  into  camp, 
were  no  less  gratified  to  hear  of  the  successful  repulse, 
than  astonished  at  the  bold  attack  of  the  freebooters. 
Marshland's  horse,  arms,  equipage,  and  twenty  pounds  of 
tea,  of  which  he  had  rifled  a  Mormon  train  a  few  days 
before,  were  confiscated  upon  the  spot. 

Rockfellow  and  two  other  packers  rode  back  to  the 
scene  of  the  robbery,  where,  striking  Marshland's  trail, 
they  followed  it,  searching  for  him  till  eleven  o'clock.  He 
admitted  afterwards,  when  captured,  that  they  were  at 
one  time  within  fifteen  feet  of  him.  They  found,  scattered 
along  the  route,  all  the  packages  of  greenbacks  he  had 
taken.  He  gained  nothing  by  his  attack,  was  badly 
wounded,  froze  both  his  feet  on  his  retreat  to  Deer  Lodge, 
and  lost  his  horse,  arms,  and  provisions.  Both  of  Dutch 
John's  hands  were  frozen,  but  he  was  fortunate  in  meet- 


284   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

ing  J.  X.  Bcidler,  who  bound  them  up  for  him,  not  know- 
ing >it  the  time  the  vilhiin's  occupation.  "  X,"  as  he  is 
called  by  all  the  mountaineers,  always  accounted  this 
kindly  act  to  the  retreating  ruffian  as  a  stroke  of  bad 
fortune.  "  Had  I  only  known,"  says  he  when  telling  the 
story,  "  I  would  have  bandaged  his  hands  with  something 
stronger  than  a  handkerchief." 

The  serious  part  of  the  transaction  being  over,  our 
wayfarers  had  abundant  sport  for  the  remainder  of  their 
long  journey,  in  determining  the  rights  of  the  respective 
claimants  to  the  booty.  Forbes  claimed  Marshland's 
horse  and  accoutrements,  because  it  was  his  shot  that 
caused  the  robber  to  take  flight.  Moody  insisted  upon  his 
right  to  an  equal  share,  in  compensation  for  the  wounds 
he  gave  Dutch  John.  The  two  teamsters  set  up  a  claim, 
upon  the  principle  that  all  ships  in  sight  are  entitled  to 
a  share  in  the  prize.  If  steersmen  represented  schooners 
at  sea,  teamsters  were  the  proper  representatives  of 
"  prairie  schooners."  The  subject  was  debated  at  every 
camp  made  on  the  journey,  and  finally  determined  by 
electing  a  judge  from  their  number,  impanelling  a  jury, 
and  going  through  all  the  forms  of  a  regular  trial.  The 
verdict  gave  Forbes  the  possession  of  the  property  on  pay- 
ment of  thirty  dollars  to  Moody,  and  twenty  dollars  to 
each  of  the  teamsters.  The  party  arrived  at  Salt  Lake 
City  without  further  molestation. 


CHAPTER   XXIX 

GEORGE  IVES 

GEORGE  IVES,  whose  name  is  already  familiarized 
to  the  readers  of  this  history,  by  the  prominent 
part  he  acted  in  the  robberies  of  the  coach,  and  the  con- 
templated attack  upon  Hauser  and  the  writer,  was  at  the 
time  regarded  as  the  most  formidable  robber  of  the  band 
with  which  he  was  connected.  The  boldness  of  his  acts, 
and  his  bolder  enunciation  of  them,  left  no  doubt  in  the 
public  mind  as  to  his  guilt.  But  the  people  were  not  yet 
ripe  for  action ;  and,  while  Ives  and  his  comrades  in  crime 
were  yet  free  to  prosecute  their  plans  for  murder  and 
robbery,  the  miners  and  traders  were  content,  if  let  alone, 
to  pursue  their  several  occupations.  The  condition  of  so- 
ciety was  terrible.  Not  a  day  passed  unmarked  by  crimes 
of  greater  or  lesser  enormity.  The  crisis  was  seemingly 
as  distant  as  ever.  Men  hesitated  to  pass  between  the 
towns  on  the  gulch  after  nightfall,  nor  even  in  mid-day 
did  they  dare  to  carry  upon  their  persons  any  larger 
amounts  in  gold  dust  than  were  necessary  for  current  pur- 
poses. If  a  miner  happened  to  leave  the  town  to  visit  a 
neighboring  claim,  he  was  fortunate  to  escape  robbery  on 
the  way.  And  if  the  amount  he  had  was  small,  he  was 
told  that  he  would  be  killed  unless  he  brought  more  the 
next  time.  Often  wayfarers  were  shot  at,  sometimes  killed, 
and  sometimes  wounded. 

During  this  period,  it  was  a  custom  with  George  Ives, 
when  in  need  of  money,  to  mount  his  horse,  and,  pistol  in 
hand,  ride  into  a  store  or  saloon,  toss  his  buckskin  purse 

285 


286   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

upon  the  counter,  and  request  the  proprietor  or  clerk  to 
put  one  or  more  ounces  of  gold  dust  in  it  "  as  a  loan." 
The  man  thus  addressed  dare  not  refuse.  Often,  while 
the  person  was  weighing  the  levy,  the  daring  shoplifter 
would  amuse  himself  by  firing  his  revolver  at  the  lamps 
and  such  other  articles  of  furniture  as  would  make  a  crash. 
This  was  frequently  done  for  amusement.  It  became  so 
common  that  it  attracted  little  or  no  attention,  and  peo- 
ple submitted  to  it,  under  the  conviction  that  there  was 
no  remedy. 

Anton  M.   Holtcr,   owner  of  a  train  of  wagons,  while 
on  the  route  from  Salt  Lake  City  to  Virginia  City  with  a 
large  party  of  emigrants,  was  overtaken  by  a  fierce  moun- 
tain  snowstorm,  during  the  last   days   of   November,   on 
Black  Tail  Deer  Creek.     Fearing  that  the  road  would  be 
blocked,  he  and  a  Mr.  Evanson  pushed  on  as  rapidly  as 
possible   to    the   Pas-sam-a-ri,    crossing   the   stream    with 
their  teams  with  great  difficulty,  the  water  reaching  mid- 
way up  the  sides   of  the  wagon-boxes.     Once  over,  they 
made  a  camp  near  by,  to  await  the  abatement  of  the  storm. 
A  jMr.  Hughes  who  had  been  travelling  in  company  with 
them,  came  up  with  his  wagon  at  a  late  hour  in  the  even- 
ing to  the  cabin  at  the  crossing,  at  the  door  of  which  heJ 
was  met  by  "  Dutch  John,"  its  only  occupant.     John,  atl 
his  request,  went  in  search  of  Evanson,  who  came  and  as-j 
sisted  in  getting  the  horses  and  wagons  across  the  river. [ 
The  night   was  half  spent  before  the  object  was  accom-j 
plishcd.      During    all   this    time,   John,    in    pursuance   of] 
Plummer's  general  instructions  for  obtaining  information, 
plied  Evanson  with  questions  about  Holter's  property  and 
ready  means   in  gold, —  possessing  himself  of  all  the  in- 
formation  that    an    unsuspicious   man   would   be   likely  to 
communicate. 

A   few  days  later,   Ilolter   moved   on  with  his  train   to 
Ramshorn    Creek,    and    after    making    camp,    went    to 


GEORGE  IVES  287 

Virginia  City  with  two  yokes  of  oxen  for  sale.  On  his  way 
he  passed  Ives  and  Carter,  who,  he  observed,  eyed  him 
suspiciously.  Failing  to  sell  his  cattle,  he  left  on  his  re- 
turn to  camp  the  next  day,  intending  to  spend  the  night 
at  ]\Ir.  Norris's  ranche.  He  had  gone  well  down  into  the 
valley,  and  it  was  nearly  sundown,  when  he  saw  Ives,  ac- 
companied by  one  Irving,  approaching  on  horseback. 
Holter  did  not  know  Ives,  and  had  no  real  fear  of  an  at- 
tack ;  but  with  that  instinctive  feeling  which  regards  every 
:stranger  with  suspicion  in  a  country  infested  with  rob- 
bers, he  immediately  drew  and  examined  his  pistol.  It 
was  so  badly  rusted  that  he  could  not  make  it  revolve. 
He  replaced  it,  and,  remembering  that  he  had  no  money, 
felt  equally  satisfied  to  escape  or  to  hazard  an  adventure. 
Ives  and  Irving  rode  up  in  front  of  him,  and  Ives,  impu- 
dently, as  Holter  thought,  inquired, 

"  Where  are  you  going?  " 

"  Down  to  Norris's  place,"  replied  Holter.  "  Do  you 
know   where  he  lives?  " 

"  Yes,  I  know  well  enough,"  answered  the  highway- 
man, and  drawing  closer  to  him  he  asked,  "  Have  you  got 
any  money?  " 

Holter  drew  back  in  surprise,  but  answered  immedi- 
ately, "  No,  I  'm  dead  broke." 

"  Well,  we  '11  see  about  that,"  said  Ives,  drawing  and 
cocking  his  revolver. 

"  You  can  see  for  yourself,"  said  Holter,  drawing  forth 
a  memorandum  book. 

"  Hand  it  over  here,"  said  Ives,  reaching  and  taking  it. 
He  then  proceeded  to  examine  it  with  some  care,  but  find- 
ing nothing  in  it,  with  an  expression  of  disgust  he  threw 
it  away.  Turning  to  Holter,  and  levelling  his  pistol  full 
upon  him,  he  continued, 

"  You  've  got  money,  and  I  know  it.  Hand  it  over,  or 
I  '11  shoot  you." 


288   VIGILANTE  DxVYS  AND  WAYS 

"  You  're  surely  mistaken,"  replied  Holter.  ''  I  left 
what  I  had  at  the  camp,  and  had  to  borrow  ten  dollars  in 
town." 

"  I  tell  you,  you  have  got  money,"  was  the  savage  re- 
joinder. "Turn  your  pockets  inside  out  —  and  be  quick 
about  it,  too." 

Holter  complied,  and  found  a  few  greenbacks,  which, 
as  they  were  not  in  use,  he  had  forgotten. 

"  Hand  'em  over  here,"  said  Ives,  and  cramming  them 
hurriedly  into  his  pocket,  he  said, 

"  Now,  turn  your  cattle  out  of  the  road,  and  don't 
follow  our  tracks ;  and  when  you  come  this  way  again, 
bring  more  money  with  30U." 

As  Holter  turned  his  cattle  to  obey,  he  glanced  fur- 
tively over  his  shoulder,  and  saw  Ives  in  the  very  act  of 
firing  at  him.  Dodging  instinctively,  the  ball  passed 
through  his  hat,  ploughing  a  furrow  down  to  the  scalp, 
which  it  grazed,  through  his  heavy  hair.  Stunned  by  the 
shot,  Holter  staggered  and  almost  fell,  just  as  Ives  aimed 
and  pulled  the  trigger  again.  Fortunately,  the  cap 
snapped;  and  Holter,  now  sufficiently  recovered,  started 
on  a  run,  and  took  refuge  in  an  old  beaver-dam.  Ives 
followed  him  closely  for  another  shot,  but  a  teamster  with 
a  load  of  poles  at  this  moment  appeared  upon  the  road, 
which  circumstance  deterred  Ives  from  firing,  and  prob- 
ably saved  Holter's  life. 

During  this  same  season,  a  man  who  had  been  whipped 
for  larceny  at  Nevada,  under  some  modification  of  his  pun- 
ishment, agreed  to  disclose  certain  transactions  of  the  rob- 
bers. Ives  heard  of  it,  and  watching  his  opportunity,  met 
the  poor  fellow  on  the  road  between  Virginia  City  and 
Dempsey's.  Riding  up  to  him,  he  deliberately  fired  at  him 
with  his  gun  charged  with  buckshot.  From  some  cause 
the  shot  failed  of  eflfect.  Ives  immediately  drew  his  re- 
volver, and  while  loading  him  with  oaths  and  execrations, 


GEORGE  IVES  289 

shot,  hlni  through  the  head.  The  man  fell  deatl  from  his 
horse,  which  Ives  took  by  the  bridle  and  led  off  to  the 
hills.  This  cold-blooded  murder  was  committed  in  open 
day  on  the  most  populous  thoroughfare  in  the  country, 
in  plain  view  of  two  ranches,  and  while  several  teams  were 
in  sight.  Travellers  who  arrived  at  the  spot  half  an  hour 
after  its  occurrence,  aided  by  the  neighboring  ranchmen, 
paid  the  last  sad  offices  to  the  still  warm  but  lifeless  body. 
Ives  sought  concealment  in  the  wakiup  of  George  Hilder- 
man,  where  he  remained  until  satisfied  that  no  public  ac- 
tion would  be  taken  to  avenge  the  crime. 

He  then  again  sallied  forth  to  watch  for  fresh  opportu- 
nities for  plunder  and  bloodshed.  His  name  had  become 
the  terror  of  the  country.  No  man  felt  safe  with  such  a 
monster  at  large,  and  3'et  no  one  was  ready  to  initiate  a 
plan  for  his  destruction.  His  malevolence  was  only 
equalled  b}^  his  audacity, —  and  this  was,  if  possible,  sur- 
passed by  his  gasconade.  The  dark  features  of  his 
character  were  unrelieved  by  a  single  generous  or  manly 
quality.  Avarice,  and  a  natural  thirst  for  bloody  ad- 
ventures, controlled  his  life. 

About  this  time,  a  yovmg  German,  by  the  name  of  Nich- 
olas Tiebalt,  who  was  in  the  employ  of  Messrs.  Burtchy 
and  Clark,  sold  to  them  a  fine  span  of  mules  which  were 
in  charge  of  the  herders  at  Dempsey's  ranche.  They  had 
advanced  the  money  for  the  purchase,  and  sent  Tiebalt 
after  the  mules.  As  several  days  elapsed  without  his  re- 
turn, they  concluded  that  he  had  swindled  them  out  of  the 
money,  and  left  the  country  with  the  mules ;  a  conclusion 
all  the  more  regretted  by  them,  from  the  fact  that  he  had 
won  their  confidence  by  his  fidelity  and  sobriety. 

Nine  days  after  Tiebalt  had  left  Nevada,  Mr.  William 
Palmer,  while  hunting  in  the  Pas-sam-a-ri  Valley,  shot  a 
grouse,  and  on  going  to  the  place  where  it  fell,  found  it, 
dead,  upon  the  frozen  corpse  of  Tiebalt,     He  immediately 


290   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

went  to  the  wakiup  occupied  by  John  Franck  —  better 
known  as  "  Long  John  "  —  and  George  Hilderman,  a 
quarter  of  a  mile  below,  to  obtain  their  assistance  in  lift- 
ing the  body  into  the  wagon. 

"  I  will  take  the  body  to  town,"  said  he,  "  and  see  if  it 
cannot  be  identified." 

*'  We  '11  have  nothing  to  do  with  it,"  said  Long  John. 
"  Dead  bodies  are  common  enough  in  this  country.  They, 
kill  people  every  day  in  \  irginia  City,  and  nobody  speaks 
of  it,  nobody  cares.  Why  should  we  trouble  ourselves  wlio 
this  man  is,  after  he  's  dead?  " 

Shocked  at  this  brutalit}'.  Palmer  returned  to  the  corpse, 
which  he  contrived  to  place  in  his  wagon,  and  drove  on  to 
Nevada.  The  body  was  exposed  for  half  a  day  in  the 
wagon,  and  was  visited  by  hundreds  of  people  from  Ne- 
vada, Virginia  City,  and  the  other  towns  in  the  gulch. 

In  reply  to  the  question,  "  How  did  you  find  it  ?  "  Pal- 
mer answered, 

"  It  was  providential.  The  Almighty  pointed  the  way, 
or  it  would  never  have  been  found.  I  had  my  gun  in  my 
hand,  and  was  looking  carefully  about  for  game,  when  a 
grouse  rose  suddenly  at  my  approach.  I  had  little  thought 
of  killing  it  when  I  fired,  as  the  shot  was  a  chance  one. 
The  bird  flew  some  distance  before  it  fell,  but  seeing  that 
I  had  wounded  it,  I  ran  as  rapidly  as  I  could,  and  went 
directly  to  it,  and  found  it  on  the  breast  of  the  murdered 
man.  The  body  was  lying  in  a  clump  of  heavy  sage-brush, 
completely  concealed, —  away  from  the  road,  where  no  one 
would  ever  have  gone  except  by  chance, —  and  but  for  the 
fact  that  it  was  frozen  hard,  would  long  before  this  time 
have  been  devoured  by  the  coyotes." 

The  body  of  Tiubalt  bore  the  marks  of  a  small  lariat 
about  tlie  throat,  which  had  been  used  to  drag  him,  while 
still  living,  to  the  place  of  concealment.  The  hands  were 
filled  with  fragments  of  sage-brush,  torn  off  in  the  agony 


GEORGE  IVES  291 

of  that  terrible  process ;  and  the  bullet  wound  over  the 
left  eye  showed  how  the  murder  had  been  accomplished. 

These  appalling  witnesses*  to  the  cruelty  and  fiendish- 
ness  of  the  perpetrator  of  this,  bloody  deed  roused  the  in- 
dignation of  the  people  to  a  fearful  pitch.  They  went 
to  work  to  avenge  the  crime  with  an  alacrity  sharpened 
by  the  consciousness  of  that  long  and  criminal  neglect 
on  their  part,  but  for  which  it  might  have  been  averted. 
They  felt  themselves  to  be,  in  some  degi'ee,  participants 
in  the  diabolical  tragedy.  In  the  presence  of  that  dead 
body  the  reaction  commenced,  which  knew  no  abatement 
until  the  country  was  entirely  freed  of  its  bloodthirsty 
persecutors.  That  same  eveping,  twenty-five  citizens  of 
Nevada  subscribed  an  obligation  of  mutual  support  and 
protection,  mounted  their  horses,  and,  under  the  leader- 
ship of  a  competent  man,  at  ten  o'clock  started  in  pursuit 
of  the  murderer.  Obtaining  an  accession  of  one  good  man 
on  their  route,  and  avoiding  Dempsey's  by  a  hill  trail, 
they  rode  six  miles  be3"ond  it  to  a  cabin,  and  with  the  aid 
of  its  proprietor  found  their  way  to  the  point  of  destina- 
tion. At  an  early  hour  in  the  morning,  they  crossed  Wis- 
consin Creek,  breaking  through  the  frozen  surface,  and 
emerging  from  it  with  clothing  perfectly  rigid  from  frost 
and  wet.  A  mile  beyond  this  they  were  ordered  to  alight 
and  stand  by  their  horses  until  daybreak.  An  hour  or 
more  passed,  when  they  remounted  and  rode  quietly  on, 
until  in  sight  of  Long  John's  wakiup.  A  dog  was  heard 
to  bark ;  and  in  anticipation  of  the  alarm  it  might  occa- 
sion, they  dashed  forward  at  full  speed,  surrounding  the 
wakiup,  each  man  halting  with  his  gun  bearing  upon  it. 
Jumping  from  his  horse,  the  leader  discovered  eight  or 
ten  men  wrapped  in  their  blankets,  sleeping  in  front  of  the 
entrance.     Raising  his  voice,  he  exclaimed, 

"  The  first  man  that  rises  will  get  a  quart  of  buckshot 
in  him  before  he  can  say  '  Jack  Robinson.'  " 


292   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

It  was  too  dark  to  distinguish  the  sleepers.  With  half 
of  his  company  at  his  back,  the  leader  strode  on  to  the 
entrance.      Peering  into  the  darkness,  he  asked, 

"  Is  Long  John  here?  " 

"  I  'ni  here,"  responded  a  voice,  instantly  recognized  to 
be  that  of  the  person  addressed.     "  What  do  you  want.''  " 

"  I  want  you,"  was  the  rejoinder.     "  Come  out  here." 

"  W^ell,"  said  John,  "  I  guess  I  know  what  yon  want 
me  for." 

"  Probably,"  replied  the  leader.  "  But  hurry  up. 
\\q  »vc  fio  time  to  lose." 

*'  One  moment.  I  '11  be  with  30U  as  soon  as  I  can  get 
on  my  moccasins,"  said  John. 

"  Be  (juick  about  it,"  shouted  the  leader. 

Long  John  was  taken  in  charge  by  the  company,  and 
as  soon  as  it  was  light  enough  to  enable  them  to  see 
distinctly,  the  leader,  with  four  men,  escorted  him  to 
the  spot  where  Tiebalt  was  found.  The  remainder  of  the 
company  kept  guard  over  the  men  found  sleeping  near  the 
wakiup.  When  they  arrived  upon  the  ground,  the  leader 
said  to  him, 

"  Long  John,  we  have  arrested  you  for  the  murder  of 
NIcliolns  Tiebalt.  We  believe  you  to  be  guilty,  and  have 
brought  you  up  here  to  the  spot  where  his  body  was  found 
to  hear  what  you  have  to  say." 

Palmer,  who  was  one  of  the  company,  then  proceeded  to 
explain  all  the  circumstances  connected  with  the  discovery, 
the  position  of  the  body,  and  the  conversation  he  held  with 
Long  John  when  he  applied  to  him  for  assistance. 

"  Boys,"  said  John,  in  a  serious  tone,  '*  I  did  not  do  it. 
As  God  shall  judge  me,  I  did  not." 

One  man,  more  excited  than  the  rest,  now  began  han- 
tlling  his  pistol,  saying  to  John,  meanwhile, 

"  Long  John,  you  had  better  prepare  for  another 
world."     What  more  lie  might  have  said,  or  what  done. 


I 


GEORGE  IVES  293 

it  is  easy  to  conceive,  had  he  not  been  interrupted  by  the 
leader,  who,  stepping  forward,  remarked, 

"  This  won't  do.  If  there  is  anything  to  be  done,  let 
us  all  be  together." 

Long  John  was  then  taken  aside  by  three  of  the  com- 
pany, who  sat  down  in  the  faint  morning  light  to  ex- 
amine him.  Just  as  they  were  seated,  they  saw  through 
the  haze  at  no  great  distance,  "  Black  Bess,"  the  mule 
which  Tiebalt  rode  from  Nevada  when  he  started  for 
Dempsey's.  She  seemed  to  be  there  at  this  opportune  mo- 
ment as  a  dumb  witness  to  the  assassination  of  her  mas- 
ter.    Pointing  to  the  animal,  one  of  the  men  inquired, 

"John,  whose  mule  is  that?  " 

"  That 's  the  mule  that  Tiebalt  rode  down  here,"  he 
answered. 

"  John,"  was  the  reply,  "  you  know  whose  mule  that  is. 
Things  look  dark  for  you.  You  had  better  be  thinking 
of  your  condition  now." 

"  I  am  innocent,"  murmured  John. 

The  mule  was  caught  and  led  up  to  him.  "  Where  are 
the  other  two  mules  ?  "  was  the  next  inquiry. 

"  I  do  not  know,"  he  replied. 

"  John,"  said  his  interrogator,  "  you  had  better  be  look- 
ing forward  to  another  world.  You  are  '  played  out ' 
in  this  one,  sure." 

"  I  did  not  commit  that  crime,"  was  his  reply,  "  and  if 
you  '11  give  me  a  chance,  I  '11  clear  myself." 

The  leader  now  said  to  him,  "  John,  you  can  never  do 
it,  for  you  knew  of  a  man  lying  dead  here,  close  to  your 
home,  for  nine  days,  and  never  reported  his  murder.  You 
deserve  hanging  for  that  alone.  Why  did  n't  you  come 
and  tell  the  people  of  Virginia  City.^  " 

"  I  was  afraid,"  said  John.  "  It  would  have  been  as 
much  as  my  life  was  worth  to  have  done  it.     I  dared  not." 

"  Afraid?     Of  whom?  "  inquired  the  leader. 


294   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

"  I  was  afraid  of  the  men  around  here,"  he  answered. 

"  What  men  ?     Who  arc  they  ?  "  persisted  the  leader. 

"  I  dare  not  tell  who  they  are,"  said  John,  in  a  fright- 
ened tone :   "  there  's  one  of  them  around  here." 

"  But  you  must  tell,  if  you  would  save  yourself.  Where 
is  the  one  you  speak  of?  " 

"  There  *s  one  at  the  wakiup, —  the  one  that  killed  Nick 
Tiebalt." 

"  Who  is  he?    What 's  his  name?  " 

"  George  Ives,"  said  John,  after  a  moment's  hesitation. 

"  Is  he  down  at  the  wakiup?  " 

"  Yes.      I  left  him  there  when  I  came  out." 

"  Men,"  said  the  leader,  addressing  them,  "  stay  here 
and  keep  watch  over  John,  while  I  go  down  and  arrest 
Ives." 

Selecting  from  the  number  at  the  wakiup  a  person  an- 
swering tht'  description  of  Ives,  he  asked  his  name,  which 
was  very  promptly  given. 

"  I  want  you,"  said  the  leader. 

"  What  do  you  want  me  for?  "  inquired  Ives. 

"  To  go  to  ^'irginia  City,"  rejoined  the  leader. 

"  All  right,"  said  Ives :  "  I  expect  I  '11  have  to  go." 
He  was  immediately  taken  in  charge  by  the  guard. 

"  Old  Tex  "  was  standing  near  b}'  at  the  time,  and  the 
leader  turning  to  him,  said, 

"  I  believe  we  shall  want  you,  too."  The  ruffian  made 
an  impudent  reply,  to  which  the  leader  simply  rejoined, 

"  You  must  consider  yourself  under  arrest," —  words 
whose  fearful  import  he  understood  too  well  to  disobey. 

The  other  men  now  emerged  from  their  blankets.  They 
were  Alex  Carter,  Bob  Zachary,  Whiskey  Bill,  and  Johnny 
Cooper,  and  two  inoflPensive  persons  who  had  fallen  in  with 
them  the  evening  before,  and  craved  permission  to  pass 
the  night  under  their  protection.  Fortunately,  these  con- 
fiding persons  had  no  mone}',  and  escaped  assassination ; 


GEORGE  IVES  295 

but  when  told  of  the  character  of  their  entertainers,  one 
of  them,  pointing  to  Carter,  remarked, 

"  There  's  one  good  man,  anyhow.  I  knew  him  on  the 
other  side  of  the  mountains,  where  he  was  a  packer,  and 
there  was  no  better  man  on  the  Pacific  slope." 

Just  at  this  moment,  the  leader  saw  some  movement 
which  indicated  to  him  that  a  rescue  of  the  three  prison- 
ers would  be  attempted  by  their  comrades,  and  in  a  loud 
tone  of  command,  said, 

"  Every  man  take  his  gun  and  keep  it." 

Five  men  were  ordered  to  search  the  wakiup,  and  the 
others,  meanwhile,  to  keep  off  intruders.  The  searchers 
soon  came  out  with  seven  dragoon  and  navy  revolvers,  nine 
shotguns,  and  thirteen  rifles,  as  the  fruit  of  their  spoil. 
Among  other  weapons  was  the  pistol  taken  from  Leroy 
Southmayd  at  the  time  of  the  coach  robbery  described  in 
a  previous  chapter.  Having  completed  the  search  and 
broken  up  the  nest  of  the  marauders,  the  scouting  party 
started  with  their  prisoners  on  the  return  to  Nevada.  At 
Dempsey's  they  found  George  Hilderman,  who,  after  offer- 
ing various  excuses,  consented,  under  the  mild  persuasion 
of  a  revolver,  to  accompany  them.  The  prisoners  were 
disarmed  but  not  bound,  nor  prevented  from  riding  at 
pleasure  among  their  captors.  A  stranger,  on  seeing  or 
joining  with  the  cavalcade  while  in  motion,  would  never 
have  supposed  that  it  was  an  escort  with  four  murderers 
in  charge;  nor,  from  the  merry,  jovial  conversation  and 
song  singing  of  the  company,  as  it  rode  gayly  and  rapidly 
onward,  have  distinguished  the  accusers  from  the  accused. 
Whenever  the  subject  of  his  offence  was  mentioned,  Ives 
asserted  his  innocence,  and  declared  that  he  would  be  only 
too  happy  to  have  an  opportunity  to  prove  it.  With  a 
fair  trial  by  civil  authority  in  Virginia  City,  he  had  no 
fear  of  the  result ;  but  as  he  once  had  the  misfortune  to  kill 
a  favorite  dog  in  Nevada,  he  felt  that  he  would  have  the 


296   VIGILANTE  DAYS  xVND  WAYS 

prejudices  of  the  people  against  him  if  put  upon  trial 
there.  This  idea  was  elaborated,  because  if  adopted, 
Plumnier,  being  sheriff,  would  have  the  selection  of  the 
men  from  whom  the  jury  would  be  impanelled.  Ives  af- 
fected great  amiability  and  a  ready  compliance  with  every 
order  and  recjuest  made  by  his  captors.  One  subject  sug- 
gested another,  and  many  of  the  rough  and  pleasant  phases 
of  mountain  life  passed  in  review,  until  that  of  racing,  and 
the  comparative  speed  of  their  horses,  was  introduced. 
On  this  theme  Ives  was  specially  eloquent,  and  being 
mounted  on  his  own  pony,  which  had  some  local  popularity 
as  a  racer,  he  ventured  finally  to  propose  a  trial  of  speed 
with  several  of  the  guard,  and  even  challenged  them  to  race 
with  him.  After  one  or  two  short  scrub  races,  in  which  he 
suffered  himself  to  be  beaten,  the  spirit  of  the  race-course 
seemed  suddenly  to  animate  the  company,  and,  one  after 
another,  all  were  soon  engaged  in  the  exciting  sport.  It 
increased  in  interest  and  excitement  for  several  miles,  and 
until  within  a  short  distance  of  Daly's  ranche.  At  this 
point,  Ives's  horse,  which  had  been  kept  under  before, 
was  now  pressed  to  his  utmost  speed;  and  when  the  party 
were  least  prepared  for  it,  they  saw  him  not  only  as  the 
winner  in  the  race,  but  leading  the  cavalcade,  and  bearing 
his  master  away  at  a  fearfully  rapid  rate  over  the  level 
stretch  towards  Daly's.  Instantly,  every  horse  was  urged 
into  the  pursuit.  On  rode  the  desperado,  and  on  followed 
the  now  broken  column  of  scouts,  two  of  whom  })resseil  him 
so  closely  that  he  could  not  stop  long  enough  at  the  ranch* 
to  exchange  his  pony  for  his  favorite  horse,  which,  by  or-j 
der  of  some  of  his  friends  who  had  })ushed  on  from  th< 
wakiup  in  advance  of  the  scouts,  had  been  saddled  an< 
was  standing  ready  for  his  use.  His  pursuers,  more  foi 
tuiiate,  found  a  fresh  horse  and  mule  standing  there,  whici 
had  come  down  from  Virginia  City.  These  they  mountcc 
and  resuming  the  pursuit,  when  three  miles  away  from  th< 


GEORGE  IVES  297 

main  road  near  the  Bivans  Gulch  mountains,  they  saw  the 
hotly  pressed  fugitive  jump  from  his  exhausted  pony,  and 
take  refuge  among  the  rocks  of  an  adjacent  ravine. 
Quicker  than  it  can  be  told,  they  alighted,  and,  fresher  on 
foot  than  the  jaded  steeds,  they  were  soon  standing  on  the 
edge  of  the  sheltering  hollow.  Ives  was  nowhere  visible. 
Certain  that  he  was  near,  Burtchy  and  Jack  Wilson 
plunged  into  the  ravine,  and  commenced  a  separate  search 
among  the  rocks.  It  was  of  brief  duration,  for  Burtchy 
soon  discovered  him,  crouching  behind  a  large  bowlder,  and 
directed  him  to  come  out  and  surrender  himself. 

Ives  laughingly  obe3'ed,  and  in  a  wheedling  manner  was 
approaching  Burtch}',  who  was  separated  from  his  com- 
rade, evidently'  with  the  purpose  of  wresting  his  gun  from 
him.  Burtchy  understood  the  movement,  and  with  his  eye 
still  coursing  the  barrel,  now  but  a  few  feet  from  the  heart 
it  would  have  been  emptied  into  in  a  moment  more,  he 
said, 

"  That  is  far  enough,  Mr.  Ives.  Now  stand  fast,  or  I 
shall  spill  your  precious  life-blood  very  quick." 

Wilson,  who  had  been  searching  in  a  different  direction, 
now  came  up  and  aided  in  securing  the  prisoner,  with  whom 
they  soon  rejoined  the  rest  of  the  company.  The  two 
hours  which  had  elapsed  between  the  escape  and  recapture, 
were  pregnant  with  wisdom  for  the  almost  disheartened 
scouts. 

"  Let  us  raise  a  pole  and  hang  him  at  once,"  said  one 
of  them,  as  the  captors  rode  up  with  their  prisoner. 

Several  voices  raised  in  approval  of  this  recommenda- 
tion, were  at  once  silenced  by  a  very  decided  negative  from 
the  remainder  of  the  companj'.  Ives,  meantime,  commenced 
chatting  gayly  with  the  crowd,  and  treated  them  to  a 
"  drink  all  round."  The  cavalcade,  formed  in  a  hollow 
square,  with  their  prisoner  in  the  centre,  then  rode  quietly 
on  to  Nevada,  arriving  soon  after  sunset. 


CHAPTER  XXX 

TRIAL  OF  GEORGE  IVES 

IXTELUGEXCE  of  the  capture  of  Ives  preceded  the 
arrival  of  the  scouts  at  Nevada.  That  town  was  full 
of  people  when  they  entered  with  their  prisoners.  A  dis- 
cussion between  the  citizens  of  Virginia  City  and  Nevada, 
growing  out  of  the  claims  asserted  by  each  to  the  custody 
and  trial  of  the  prisoners,  after  much  protesting  by  the 
friends  of  Ives,  resulted  in  their  detention  at  Nevada. 
They  were  separated  and  chained,  and  a  strong  inside  and 
outside  guard  placed  over  them.  The  excitement  was  in- 
tense; and  the  roughs,  alarmed  for  the  fate  of  their  com- 
rades, despatched  Clubfoot  George  to  Bannack  with  a 
message  to  Plummer,  requesting  him  to  come  at  once  to 
Nevada,  and  demand  the  prisoners  for  trial  by  the  civil 
authorities.  By  means  of  frequent  relays  provided  at  the 
several  places  of  rendezvous  of  the  robbers  on  the  route, 
he  performed  the  journey  before  morning.  Johnny  Gib- 
bons, a  rancher,  in  sympathy  with  Ives,  proceeded  innne- 
diately  to  Virginia  City,  and  secured  the  legal  assistance 
of  Ritchie  and  Smith,  the  latter  being  the  same  individual 
who  had  figured  in  the  defence  of  the  Dillingham  mur- 
derers. But  the  time  for  strategy  was  over, —  the  people 
were  determined  there  should  be  no  delay. 

Early  the  next  morning,  the  road  leading  through  the 
gulch  was  filled  with  people  hastening  from  all  the  towns 
and  mining  settlements  to  Nevada.  Before  ten  o'clock, 
fifteen  hundred  or  two  thousand  had  assembled  and  were 
standing  in  the  partially  congealed  mud  of  the  only  public 

298 


TRIAL  OF  GEORGE  IVES         299 

thoroughfare  of  the  town.  The  weather  was  pleasant  for 
the  season,  with  no  snow,  but  a  little  frostwork  of  ice  bor- 
dered the  streams,  and  the  sun  shone  with  an  October 
warmth  and  serenity.  The  urchins  of  the  neighborhood 
were  dodging  in  and  out  among  the  crowd,  in  merry  pas- 
time; and  the  great  gathering,  with  all  its  appointments, 
wore  more  of  a  conmiemorative  than  retributory  aspect. 
And  as  this  was  the  day  preceding  "  Forefathers'  Day,'' 
one  unacquainted  with  the  sterner  matters  in  hand,  might 
readily  have  mistaken  it  for  an  old-time  New  England  fes- 
tival. The  illusion,  however,  would  have  been  instantly  dis- 
pelled on  listening  to  the  various  opinions  advanced  by  the 
miners,  while  arranging  the  mode  of  trial.  It  was  finally 
determined  that  the  investigation  should  be  made  in  the 
presence  of  the  entire  assemblage, —  the  miners  reserving 
the  final  decision  of  all  questions.  To  avoid  all  injustice 
to  people  or  prisoners,  an  advisory  commission  of  twelve 
men  from  each  of  the  districts  was  appointed;  and  W.  H. 
Patton  of  Nevada,  and  W.  Y.  Pemberton  of  Virginia  City, 
were  selected  to  take  notes  of  the  testimony. 

Col.  Wilbur  F.  Sanders  and  Hon.  Charles  S.  Bagg,  at- 
torneys, appeared  on  behalf  of  the  prosecution,  and  Messrs. 
Alexander  Davis  and  J.  M.  Thurmond  for  the  prisoners. 
Ives  was  the  first  prisoner  put  upon  trial.  It  was  late  in 
the  afternoon  of  the  nineteenth  before  the  examination  of 
witnesses  commenced.  The  prisoner,  secured  by  chains, 
was  seated  beside  his  counsel.  The  remainder  of  that  day, 
and  all  the  day  following,  had  been  spent;  and  when  the 
crowd  assembled  on  the  morning  of  the  twenty-first,  the 
prospect  for  another  day  of  unprofitable  wrangling,  long 
speeches,  captious  objections,  and  personal  altercations, 
was  promising;  but  the  patience  of  the  miners  being  ex- 
hausted, they  informed  the  court  and  people  that  the  trial 
must  close  at  three  o'clock  that  afternoon.  This  an- 
nouncement was  received  with  great  satisfaction. 


300   VIGILAXTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

I  am  unable  from  any  facts  in  my  possession  to  recapit- 
ulate the  testimony.  Long  John  was  admitted  to  testify 
under  the  rule  of  law  regulating  the  reception  of  State's 
evidence.  Among  other  things  it  was  established  that  Ives 
had  said  in  a  boastful  manner  to  his  associates  in  crime, 

"  When  I  told  the  Dutchman  I  was  going  to  kill  him,  he 
asked  me  for  time  to  pra\'.  I  told  him  to  kneel  down  then. 
He  did  so,  and  I  shot  him  through  the  head  just  as  he 
connnenced  his  prayer." 

Two  alibis  set  up  in  defence  failed  of  proof,  because  of 
the  infamous  character  of  the  witnesses.  Many  develop- 
ments of  crimes  committed  jointly  by  the  prisoner  and  some 
of  his  sympathizing  friends,  were  made,  which  had  the  ef- 
fect to  drive  the  latter  from  the  Territory  before  the  close 
of  the  trial,  but  for  which  his  conviction  might  possibly 
have  been  avoided. 

The  prisoner  was  unmoved  throughout  the  trial.  Not  a 
shade  of  fear  disturbed  the  immobility  of  his  features. 
Calm  and  self-possessed,  he  saw  the  threads  of  evidence 
woven  into  strands,  and  those  strands  twisted  into  coils  as 
inextricable  us  they  were  condemnatory,  and  he  looked  out 
upon  the  stern  and  frigid  faces  of  the  men  who  were  to 
determine  his  fate  with  a  gaze  more  defiant  than  any  he 
encountered.  There  were  those  near  him  who  were  melted  to 
tears  at  the  revelation  of  his  cruelty  and  bloodthirstiness; 
there  were  even  those  among  his  friends  who  betrayed  in 
their  blanched  lineaments  their  own  horror  at  his  crimes; 
but  he,  the  central  figure,  equally  indifferent  to  both,  sat 
in  their  midst,  as  inflexible  as  an  image  of  stone. 

The  scene,  by  its  associations  and  objects,  could  not  be 
otherwise  than  terribly  impressive  to  all  who  were  actors 
in  it;  it  wanted  none  of  the  elements,  either  of  epic  force 
or  tragic  fury,  which  form  the  basis  of  our  noblest  poems. 
A  whole  conmiunity,  burning  under  repeated  outrages,  sit- 
ting In  trial  on  one  of  an  unknown  number  of  desperate 


I 


COI.OXET.  WILBTR    F.    SANDERS 

Principal  prosecutor  of  George  Ives 


TRIAL  OF  GEOllGK  IVES         301 

men,  whose  strength,  purposes,  even  whose  persons,  were 
wrapped  in  mystery !  How  many  of  that  surging  crowd 
now  gathered  around  the  crime-covered  miscreant,  might 
rush  to  his  rescue  the  moment  his  doom  should  be  pro- 
nounced, no  one  could  even  conjecture.  No  man  felt  cer- 
tain that  he  knew  the  sentiments  of  his  neighbor.  None 
certainly  knew  that  the  adherents  of  the  criminal  were 
weaker,  either  in  numbers  or  power,  than  the  men  of  law 
and  order.  It  was  night,  too,  before  the  testimony  closed ; 
and  in  the  pale  moonlight,  and  glare  of  the  trial  fire,  sus- 
picion transformed  honest  men  into  ruffians,  and  filled  the 
ranks  of  the  guilty  with  hundreds  of  recruits. 

The  jury  retired  to  deliberate  upon  their  verdict.  An 
oppressive  feeling,  almost  amounting  to  dread,  fell  upon 
the  now  silent  and  anxious  assemblage.  Every  eye  was 
turned  upon  the  prisoner,  seemingly  the  only  person  unaf- 
fected by  surrounding  circumstances.  Moments  grew  into 
hours.  "What  detains  the  jury.''  Why  do  they  not  re- 
turn? Is  not  the  case  clear  enough.''  "  These  questions  fell 
upon  the  ear  in  subdued  tones,  as  if  their  very  utterance 
breathed  of  fear.  In  less  than  half  an  hour- they  came  in 
with  solemn  faces,  with  their  verdict, —  Guilty !  —  but  one 
juror  dissenting. 

"  Thank  God  for  that !  "  "A  righteous  verdict !  "  and 
other  like  expressions  broke  from  the  crowd,  while  on  the 
outer  edge  of  it,  amidst  mingled  curses,  execrations,  and 
howls  of  indignation,  and  the  quick  click  of  guns  and  re- 
volvers, one  of  the  ruffians  exclaimed, 

"  The  murderous,  strangling  villains  dare  not  hang  him, 
at  any  rate." 

Just  at  this  moment  a  motion  was  made  to  the  miner 
"that  the  report  be  received,  and  the  jury  discharged,*' 
which,  with  some  little  opposition  from  the  prisoner's 
lawyers,  was  carried. 

Some  of  the  crowd  now  became  clamorous   for  an  ad- 


302   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

journmcnt;  but  failing  in  this,  the  motion  was  then,  niadr 
"  that  the  assembly  adopt  as  their  verdict  the  report  ol 
the  committee." 

The  prisoner's  counsel  sprung  to  their  feet  to  oppose 
the  motion,  but  it  was  curried  b}'  such  a  large  majority, 
that  the  assemblage  seemed  at  once  to  gather  fresh  life  and 
encouragement  for  the  discharge  of  the  solemn  duty  which 
it  imposed.  There  was  a  momentary  lull  in  the  proceed- 
ings, when  the  people  found  that  they  had  reached  the 
point  when  the  execution  of  the  criminal  was  all  that  re- 
mained to  be  done.  They  realized  that  the  crisis  of  the„ 
trial  had  arrived.  On  the  faces  of  all  could  be  read  theiA 
unexpressed  anxiety  concerning  the  result.  What  man 
among  them  possessed  the  courage  and  commanding  power 
equal  to  the  exigencies  of  the  occasion ! 

At  this  critical  moment,  the  necessity  for  prompt  ac- 
tion, which  had  so  disarranged  and  defeated  the  consumma- 
tion of  the  trial  of  Stinson  and  Lyons,  was  met  by  Colonel 
Sanders,  one  of  the  counsel  for  the  prosecution,  who  now 
moved,  "  that  George  Ives  be  forthwith  hanged  by  the 
neck,  until  h«  be  dead." 

This  motion  so  paralyzed  tjie  ruffians,  that,  before  they 
could  recover  from  their  astonishment  at  its  being  offered, . 
it  was  carried  with  even  greater  unanimity  than  either  off 
the  previous  motions,  the  people  having  increased  in  cour- 
age as  the  work  progressed.     Some  of  the  friends  of  Ives 
now  came  up,  with  tears  in  their  eyes,  to  bid  him  farewell. 
One  or  two  of  them  gave  way  to  immoderate  grief.    Mean- 
time, Ives  himself,  beginning  to  realize  the  near  approach 
of  death,  begged  piteously  for  a  delay  until  morning,  mak- 
ing all  those  pathetic  appeals  which  on  such  occasions  are: 
hard  to  resist.     "  I  want  to  write  to  my  mother  and  sis- 
ter," said  he;  but  when  it  was  remembered  that  he  hadi 
written,  and  caused  to  be  sent  to  his  mother  soon  after  hea 
came  to  the  country,  an  account  of  his  own  nmrdor  l)y  In- 


i 


TRIAL  OF  GEORGE  IVES         303 

dians,  In  order  to  deceive  her,  no  one  thought  tlie  reason  for 
delay  a  good  one. 

"  Ask  him,"  said  one  of  the  crowd,  as  he  held  the  hand 
of  Colonel  Sanders,  and  was  in  the  midst  of  a  most  touch- 
ing appeal  for  delay,  "  ask  him  how  long  a  time  he  gave 
the  Dutchman." 

He,  however,  made  a  will,  giving  everything  to  his  coun- 
sel and  companions  in  iniquity,  to  the  entire  exclusion  of 
his  mother  and  sisters.  Several  letters  were  written  under 
his  dictation  by  one  of  his  counsel. 

In  the  meantime,  A.  B.  Davis  and  Robert  Hereford  pre- 
pared a  scaffold.  The  butt  of  a  small  pine,  forty  feet 
in  length,  was  placed  on  the  inside  of  a  half-enclosed  build- 
ing standing  near,  under  its  rear  wall,  the  top  projecting 
over  a  cross-beam  in  front.  Near  the  upper  end  was  fas- 
tened the  fatal  cord,  and  a  large  dry-goods  box,  about  five 
feet  high,  was  placed  beneath  for  the  trap. 

Every  preparation  being  completed,  Ives  was  informed 
that  the  time  for  his  execution  had  come.  He  submitted  to 
be  led  quietly  to  the  drop,  but  hundreds  of  voices  were 
raised  in  opposition.  The  roofs  of  all  the  adjacent  build- 
ings were  crowded  with  spectators.  While  some  cried, 
"  Hang  the  ruffian,"  others  said,  "  Let 's  banish  him,"  and 
others  shouted,  "  Don't  hang  him."  Some  said,  "  Hang 
Long  John.  He  's  the  real  murderer,"  and  occasionally 
was  heard  a  threat,  "  I  '11  shoot  the  murdering  souls,"  ac- 
companied by  curses  and  epithets.  The  flash  of  revolvers 
was  everywhere  seen  in  the  moonlight.  The  guards  stood 
grim  and  firm.  The  miners  cocked  their  guns,  muttered 
threats  against  all  who  interfered,  and  formed  a  solid 
phalanx  which  it  would  have  been  madness  to  assault. 

When  the  culprit  appeared  upon  the  platform,  instant 
stillness  pervaded  the  assembly.  The  rope  was  adjusted. 
The  usual  question,  "  Have  you  anything  to  say.''  "  was  ad- 
dressed to  the  prisoner,  who  replied  in  a  distinct  voice, 


304   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

"  I  am  innocent  of  this  crime.  Alex  Carter  killed  the 
Dutchman." 

This  was  the  only  time  he  accused  any  one  except  Long 
John. 

lie  then  expressed  a  wish  to  see  Long  John,  and  his  sym- 
pathizers yelled  in  approbation ;  but  as  an  attempted  res- 
cue was  anticipated,  the  request  was  denied. 

When  all  the  formalities  and  last  requests  were  over, 
the  order  was  given  to  the  guard, 

"  Men,  do  your  duty." 

The  click  of  a  hundred  gun-locks  was  heard,  as  the  guard 
levelled  their  weapons  upon  the  crowd,  and  the  box  flew 
from  under  the  murderer's  feet,  as  he  swung  "  in  the  night 
breeze,  facing  the  pale  moon,  that  lighted  up  the  scene  of 
retributive  justice."  The  crowd  of  rescuers  fled  in  terror 
at  the  click  of  the  guns. 

"  He  is  dead,"  said  the  judge,  who  was  standing  near 
him.     "  His  neck  is  broken." 

Henry  Spivey,  the  juror  who  voted  against  the  con- 
viction of  Ives,  was  a  thoroughly  honest  and  conscientious 
man.  He  was  not  satisfied  that  the  evidence  showed  Ives 
to  be  guilty  of  the  murder  of  Ticbalt,  and  as  this  was  the 
specific  charge  against  him,  he  could  not  vote  against  his 
conscience.  He  said  that  if  Ives  had  been  tried  as  a  road 
agent,  he  would  have  voted  for  his  conviction. 

The  highest  praise  is  due  to  Colonel  Sanders  for  the 
fearlessness  and  energy  he  displayed  in  the  conduct  of  this 
trial;  for  it  furnished  an  example  which  was  not  lost  upon 
the  law  and  order  men  in  all  their  subsequent  efforts  to  rid 
the  Territory  of  the  ruffians. 


CHAPTER  XXXI 

RESULT  OF  IVES'S  EXECUTION 

THE  confederates  of  Ives  spared  no  efforts,  while  his 
trial  was  in  progress,  to  save  him.  When  intimida- 
tion failed,  they  appealed  to  sympathy;  and  when  that 
proved  unavailing,  it  was  their  intention,  by  a  desperate 
onslaught  at  the  last  moment,  to  attempt  a  forcible  rescue. 
The}'  were  deterred  from  this  by  the  rapid  clicking  of  the 
gun-locks  at  the  moment  of  the  execution.  All  through  the 
weary  hours  of  the  trial,  their  hopes  were  encouraged  with 
the  belief  that  Plummer,  their  chief,  would  come,  and  de- 
mand the  custody  of  Ives ;  and  if  refused,  obtain  it  by  a 
writ  of  habeas  corpus,  in  the  name  of  the  civil  authorities 
of  the  Territory.  But  if  he  obeyed  the  summons  of  Club- 
foot George,  which  is  at  best  problematical,  he  acted  no 
conspicuous  part.  A  saloon-keeper  by  the  name  of  Clin- 
ton was  very  positive  that  he  saw  him  drink  at  his  bar  a 
few  moments  before  the  execution,  and  that  he  immediately 
went  out  to  lead  the  "  forlorn  hope  "  of  the  roughs.  Some 
other  person  was  probably  mistaken  for  tlie  robber  chief, 
as  he  was  not  recognized  by  any  others  of  the  crowd  pres- 
ent at  the  time.  In  fact  he  had  enough  to  do  to  make  pro- 
vision for  his  own  safety ;  for  Rumor,  with  her  thousand 
tongues,  had  carried  the  intelligence  of  the  arrest  of  Ives 
to  Bannack,  before  the  arrival  there  of  Clubfoot  George. 
He  found  the  people  wild  with  excitement  over  a  version 
of  the  arrest,  which  Plummer  himself  had  already  circu- 
lated, coupled  with  a  statement  that  a  Vigilance  Committee 
had  been  formed  at  Virginia  City,  a  number  of  the  best 

305 


300   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

citizens  hanged,  and  that  from  three  hundred  to  five  hun- 
dred armed  men  were  on  the  march  to  Bannack,  with  the 
intention  of  lianging  him,  Xcd  Ray,  Buck  Stinson,  George 
Crisnian,  A.  J.  McDonald,  Thomas  Pitt,  and  others.  This 
anticipatory  announcement  was  made  with  the  hope  that 
by  mingling  the  respectable  names  of  C'risman,  McDonald, 
and  Pitt,  with  those  of  Stinson,  Ray,  and  his  own,  he  might 
divert,  or  at  least  divide,  the  attention  which  would  other- 
wise inculpate  only  the  real  villains.  It  produced  a  mo- 
mentary sensation,  but  failed  of  effect. 

George  Ives  was  no  common  desperado.  Born  of  re- 
spectable parents,  he  was  reared  at  Ives's  Grove,  Racine 
County,  Wisconsin.  The  foreground  of  his  life  was  blame- 
less ;  and  it  was  not  until  he  came  to  the  West  that  he  de- 
veloped into  the  moral  monster  we  have  seen.  His  career 
as  a  miner  in  California,  in  1857-58,  though  wild  and  reck- 
less, was  unstained  by  crime.  No  accusation  of  dishonesty 
was  made  against  him,  until  after  his  employment  as  a 
herder  of  government  mules  belonging  to  the  military  post 
at  Walla  Walla,  in  Washington  Territory.  The  heavy 
storms  of  that  latitude,  often  destructive  to  herds  in  the 
mountains,  afforded  him  opportunity  from  time  to  time,  by 
reporting  the  fatality  to  the  herd  in  his  charge  greater 
than  it  was,  to  obtain  for  himself  quite  a  large  number  of 
animals.  The  deception  was  not  discovered  until  after  his 
departure.  He  was  by  turns  a  gambler  and  a  rowdy 
ill  all  the  mining  settlements  on  Salmon  River.  His 
downward  course,  once  commenced,  was  very  rapid.  On 
one  occasion  he  surprised  the  man  who  had  employed  him 
as  a  herder,  by  riding  into  a  saloon  kept  by  him  at  Elk 
City.  After  the  man  had  seized  the  horse  by  the  bridle, 
Ives  drew  and  cocked  his  pistol  to  shoot  him,  but  was  pre- 
vented by  a  fortunate  recognition  of  his  old  employer.  He 
apologized,  and  withdrew ;  and  on  several  occasions  after- 
wards, proffered  him  the  gray  horse  he  rode  as  a  present. 


I 


RESULT  OF  EXECUTION  307 

wlilcli  the  gentleman,  convinced  that  Ives  had  stolen  tiie 
animal,  as  often  declined  to  accept.  lie  was  only  twenty- 
seven  years  of  age  at  the  close  of  his  bloody  career  in  Mon- 
tana. His  appearance  was  prepossessing.  In  stature 
nearly  six  feet,  with  light  complexion,  neatly  shaven  face, 
and  lively  blue  eyes,  no  one  would  ever  have  suspected 
him  of  dishonesty,  mucli  less  of  murder,  and  cold-blooded 
heartlcssness.  And  yet,  probabl}',  few  men  of  his  age  had 
ever  been  guilty  of  so  many  fiendish  crimes. 

George  Hilderman  was  fortunate  in  being  put  upon  trial 
immediately  after  the  execution  of  Ives.  Ten  days  later 
lie  would  have  been  hanged  upon  the  same  evidence.  It 
was  proved  that  he  knew  of  the  murder  of  Tiebalt,  and  of 
the  murder  of  the  unknown  man  near  Cold  Spring  ranche, 
neither  of  which  he  had  divulged.  He  had  even  concealed 
the  stolen  mules,  and  knew  the  persons  engaged  in  the  stage 
robberies,  and  was  found  guilty  upon  general  principles, 
but  recommended  to  mercy.  Upon  being  informed  of  the 
verdict,  he  dropped  upon  his  knees,  and  exclaimed, 

"  :\Iy  God !  is  it  so !  " 

He  then  made  a  statement  confirming  all  that  Long  John 
had  testified  to  concerning  Ives. 

The  people  commiserated  his  hapless  condition.  He  was 
an  old  man,  weak,  somewhat  imbecile.  They  concluded 
that  his  silence  had  been  enforced  by  the  threats  of  Ives 
and  his  associates,  and  that,  as  there  was  no  proof  impli- 
cating him  directly  with  robbery  or  murder,  they  would 
sentence  him  to  banishment  from  the  Territory.  Ten  days 
were  given  him  in  which  to  leave.  Glad  to  escape  with  his 
life,  he  applied  to  Plummer  for  assistance.  Plummer  ad- 
vised him  to  remain ;  but  the  old  man  took  wiser  counsel 
from  his  fears.  He  decided  to  go.  Plummer  gave  him  a 
pony  and  provisions,  and  he  left  Montana  forever. 

Hilderman  was  possessed  of  a  coarse  humor,  which  he 
had  lost  no  opportunity  to  demonstrate,  while  a  sojourner 


308   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

at  Bannack.  It  made  him  quite  a  favorite  with  the  miners, 
until  they  became  suspicious  of  his  vilhiinous  propensities. 
He  was  also  a  notorious  "  bunmier,"  and  was  oftcncr  in- 
debted to  his  humor,  which  was  always  at  command,  than 
his  pocket,  which  was  generally  empty,  for  something  to 
eat.  In  width,  his  mouth  was  a  deformity,  and  the  double 
row  of  huge  teeth  firmly  set  in  his  strong  jaws  gave  to  his 
countenance  an  animal  expression  truly  repulsive.  He  was 
the  original  of  the  story  of  "  The  Great  American  Pie- 
biter."  This  feat  of  spreading  his  jaws  so  as  to  bite 
through  seven  of  Kustar's  dried-apple  pies,  had  been  fre- 
quently performed  by  him,  in  satisfaction  of  the  wager  he 
was  ever  on  hand  to  make  of  his  ability  to  do  it.  On  one 
occasion,  however,  he  was  destined  to  be  defeated.  A  miner, 
who  had  been  victimized  by  him,  arranged  with  Kustar, 
the  proprietor  of  the  Bannack  Bakery,  to  have  two  of  the 
pies  inserted  in  the  pile  without  removing  the  tin  plates  in 
which  they  had  been  baked,  the  edges  of  which  were  con- 
cealed by  the  overlapping  crusts.  Hilderman  approached 
the  pile,  and  spreading  his  enormous  mouth,  soon  spanned 
it  with  his  teeth.  The  crunch  which  followed,  arrested 
by  the  metal,  was  unsuccessful.  He  could  not  understand 
it,  but,  despite  the  vice-like  pressure,  the  jaws  would  not 
close.  The  trick  not  being  discovered,  he  paid  the  wager, 
declaring  that  Kustar  made  the  toughest  pie-crust  he  had 
ever  met  with. 

Long  John  purchased  his  freedom  by  his  testimony,  and 
nothing  appearing  against  "  Tex  "  at  the  time,  he  also  was 
released. 

The  execution  of  Ives  had  a  terrifying  effect  upon  the 
ruffian  horde,  though  a  few  of  them  put  a  bold  face  upon 
the  matter  and  were  as  loud  in  their  threats  as  ever.  The 
prominent  actors  in  that  drama  were  singled  out  for 
slaughter,  but  no  serious  instance  of  personal  assault  oc- 
curred.    The  ruffians  felt  secure,  as  long  as  they  were  un- 


KESULT  OF  EXECUTION  309 

known,  iiud  the  only  rcvcliitioii  yv[  made  was  insufficient 
to  implicate  any  of  them  with  the  numerous  murders  and 
robberies  that  had  been  connnitted.  Facts  had  appeared 
upon  the  trial,  making  it  pr«)bable  that  Carter  was  ac- 
cessory to  the  murder  of  Tiebalt.  The  assassination  of 
Dillingham  was  unavenged.  Either  of  these  causes,  in  the 
excited  state  of  the  public  mind,  was  sufficient  to  remind 
the  people  that  the  work  they  had  to  perform  was  but  just 
begun.  If  what  they  had  done  was  right,  it  would  be  wrong 
to  permit  others  equally  guilty  to  escape.  Carter,  Stinson, 
and  Lyons  must  be  punished. 

This  spontaneity  of  thought  brought  a  few  of  the  citi- 
zens of  Virginia  and  Nevada  into  consultation  the  day 
following  the  execution;  and  before  the  close  of  the  suc- 
ceeding day,  a  league  was  entered  into,  in  which  all  classes 
of  the  connnunity  united,  for  the  punishment  of  crime  and 
the  protection  of  the  people.  Before  the  organization  of 
this  committee  was  completed,  a  fresh  impulse  was  given 
to  the  public  indignation  on  receipt  of  intelligence  that 
Lloyd  Magruder,  a  merchant  of  Elk  City,  and  the  inde- 
pendent Democratic  candidate  for  Congress,  who  had  been 
trading  in  Virginia  City  during  the  fall,  had,  while  on  his 
return  to  his  home,  with  four  others,  been  cruelly  mur- 
dered and  robbed  by  a  number  of  the  gang,  in  the  Bitter 
Root  Mountains.  Full  particulars  of  this  terrible  tragedy 
will  be  given  in  the  two  following  chapters. 

^Nlagruder  was  very  popular  with  the  people  of  Virginia 
City.  The  committee  went  to  work  immediately.  Twenty- 
four  of  them,  well  mounted,  and  provisioned  for  a  long 
ride,  started  in  pursuit  of  Carter.  That  villain,  accom- 
panied by  William  Bunton,  Graves,  and  several  others,  in 
anticipation  of  arrest,  left  as  soon  as  the  trial  of  Ives 
was  over,  for  the  west  side  of  the  range.  The  pursuers 
followed  on  his  trail  as  rapidly  as  possible,  into  the  Deer 
Lodge  Valley.    While  riding  down  the  valley,  the  vanguard 


310   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

of  the  scouts  met  Erastus  Yager,  who  from  the  redness  of 
his  hair  uiul  whiskers  was  familiarlv  calkd  "  Red."  He 
informed  them  that  Carter  and  liis  companions  were  lying 
drunk  at  Cottonwood  (since  Deer  Lodge  City),  and  that 
they  avowed  tlieniselves  good  for  at  least  thirty  of  any 
men  that  might  be  sent  to  arrest  them. 

The  party  had  suffered  severely  from  the  wintry  blasts 
and  storms,  especially  while  crossing  the  divide;  and  they 
were  glad  that  both  strategy  and  comfort  favored  their 
detention  for  the  next  twenty  hours  at  the  ranche  of  John 
Smith,  seventeen  miles  above  Cottonwood.  Ai  three  o'clock 
in  the  afternoon  of  the  next  day,  they  left  for  Cottonwood, 
expecting  to  surprise  and  capture  the  fugitive  without  dif- 
ficulty. How  great  was  their  disappointment,  to  find  that 
both  he  and  his  companions  had  fled.  A  distant  camp-fire 
in  the  mountains  at  a  later  hour  convinced  them  that  fur- 
ther pursuit  at  that  time  would  end  in  failure.  They 
learned  upon  inquiry  that  the  ruffians  had  received  a  mes- 
sage from  Virginia  City,  warning  them  of  the  approach  of 
the  Vigilantes.  And  this  intelligence  was  afterwards  con- 
firmed by  a  letter  which  was  found  at  their  camping- 
ground,  the  writing  of  which  was  recognized  as  that  of 
one  George  Brown,  who  was  supposed  to  belong  to  the 
gang.  It  afterwards  transpired  that  **  Red,"  or  Yager, 
was  the  messenger  who  brought  this  letter,  and  that  he  had 
killed  two  horses  on  the  expedition.  Disappointed  in  the 
object  of  their  search,  the  scouts  now  determined  to  return 
by  way  of  Beaverhead  Rock,  and,  if  possible,  arrest  both 
Brown  and  "  Red  "  for  their  criminal  interference. 

Their  sufferings  from  exposure  to  the  keen  December 
storms  were  intense.  Arriving  at  Beaverhead,  they  camped 
in  the  willows,  without  shelter  or  fire,  except  such  as  could 
be  enkimlled  with  green  willows.  Some  of  their  animals 
strayed  to  a  canon  to  escape  the  severity  of  the  storm. 
After  remaining  in  camp  at  this  place  for  two  days,  they 


RESULT  OF  EXECUTION  311 

nscertaiiKil  that  "  Red  "  was  at  Rattlesnake,  twenty  miles 
distant.  A  small  party  of  volunteers  started  innnediately 
to  arrest  him,  while  the  others,  en  route  to  Virginia 
City,  stopped  at  Dempscy's  to  await  their  return. 

At  Stone's  ranche  the  pursuers  obtained  fresh  horses 
from  the  stage  stock  of  Oliver  &  Co.,  and  resumed  their 
dismal  journey  to  Rattlesnake.  The  weather  was  intensely 
cold,  but  this  offered  no  impediment  to  the  pursuit  of  their 
journey.  Arriving  at  Rattlesnake,  they  surrounded  the 
ranche,  while  one  of  their  number  entered.  Stinson  and 
Ray,  both  present,  had  in  their  capacity  as  deputies  of 
Plunmicr  arrested  a  man,  whom  they  held  in  custody.  Stin- 
son, who  disliked  his  visitor,  confronted  him  with  his  re- 
volver; but  seeing  a  like  implement  already  in  the  hands 
of  the  scout,  who  "  had  the  drop  "  on  him,  he  returned 
his  weapon  to  its  sheath. 

"  I  have  come  to  arrest  *  Red  '  for  horse-stealing,"  said 
the  scout. 

On  hearing  this,  Stinson  and  Ray  released  their  pris- 
oner, on  his  promise  to  go  immediately  to  Bannack  and 
surrender  himself.  The  man  started  forthwith  to  comply 
with  his  promise. 

Meantime  the  scout  joined  his  party  outside,  and  they 
all  rode  hurriedly  to  a  wakiup  a  few  hundred  yards  up  the 
creek,  which  they  surrounded  while  the  leader  entered,  ob- 
serving as  he  did  so, 

"  It 's  a  mighty  cold  night.  Won't  you  let  a  fellow  warm 
himself?  "  Advancing  towards  the  fire,  his  eyes  fell  upon 
"  Red."  Raising  his  revolver,  he  said,  "  You  're  the  man 
I  'm  looking  for.     Come  with  me." 

"  Red  "  asked  no  questions,  and  exhibited  no  terror. 
Putting  on  his  hat,  and  gathering  his  blankets  under  his 
arm,  he  did  as  he  was  ordered,  with  as  much  apparent 
nonchalance  as  if  he  were  going  on  a  holiday  excursion. 
When  told  that  he  would  be  taken  to  Virginia  City,  he 


312   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

simply  manifested  by  a  glance  that  he  fully  comprehended 
the  situation,  and  acted  in  all  respects,  while  a  prisoner, 
as  one  who  knew  his  doom  was  irrevocable.  The  scouts 
took  him  to  the  lanche,  where  they  passed  the  night. 

They  left  early  the  next  morning;  "  Red  "  unarmed,  on 
his  own  horse,  and  riding  beside  one  of  the  scouts.  The 
dreary  ride  through  snow  and  wind  was  enlivened  by  the 
stumbling  mule  of  the  leader,  which  on  one  occasion  rolled 
over,  and  after  safely  depositing  its  rider,  made  two  or 
three  somersaults  down  a  steep  bank,  plunging  headlong 
into  a  snowdrift  at  the  bottom,  which  completely  enveloped 
him. 

At  Dempsey's  the  captors  joined  the  main  party.  Fa- 
tigued with  the  journey  through  the  drifts,  they  took  sup- 
per, provided  for  the  security  of  their  prisoner,  and 
enjoyed  a  night's  repose.  Brown,  the  man  who  had  writ- 
ten the  warning  missive  to  Carter,  was  the  bar-keeper.  an( 
a  sort  of  general  factotum  of  the  ranche.  He  had  been 
for  some  time  suspected  as  a  petty  thief  and  robber,  with- 
out the  courage  needful  to  engage  in  graver  oft'ences.  Tin 
Vigilantes  saw  that  he  was  terrified,  as  soon  as  they  ar- 
rived, though  unconscious  of  the  evidence  they  had 
obtained  against  him. 

In  the  morning  the  captain  of  the  A'igilantes,  in  a  private 
interview  with  "  Red,"  charged  him  with  being  connected 
with  the  robber  horde.  "  Red  "  denied  all  knowledge  of 
its  existence. 

"  Why,  then,"  inquired  the  captain,  "  should  you  have 
been  at  such  pains  to  apprise  the  rascals  that  the  Vigilantes 
were  on  their  track.''  " 

"  It  was  the  most  natural  thing  in  the  world,"  "  Red  " 
re])lied.  "  I  stopped  here  on  mv  way  to  Deer  Lodge,  and 
Brown,  on  being  told  of  my  destination,  asked  me  to  take 
a  letter  to  Alex  Carter  and  some  friends.  I  knew  no  rea- 
son whv  I  should  refuse,  and  did  so." 


RESULT  OF  EXECUTION  :313 

Brown  was  then  culled  in,  and  "  Red  "  repeated  the  state- 
ment in  his  presence.  Brown  did  not  deny  it,  but  betrayed 
by  his  blanched  checks  and  trembling  limbs  that  it  was 
true.  The  captain,  laying  his  hand  upon  his  shoulder,  and 
looking  him  steadily  in  the  eye,  said, 

"  Brown,  you  must  consider  yourself  under  arrest ;  we 
will  at  once  proceed  to  a  full  investigation  of  this  matter. 
It  looks  very  dark  for  you." 

He  was  put  under  guard,  to  await  the  termination  of 
the  trial  of  "  Red,"  which  was  at  once  commenced.  When 
this  was  over,  Brown  was  subjected  to  a  second  examina- 
tion before  the  entire  company. 

"  Did  you  write  this  letter  of  warning?  "  inquired  the 
captain. 

"  I  did,"  replied  Brown. 

"Why?" 

"  *  Red  '  came  to  Dempsey's  and  said  he  was  going  to 
see  the  boys,  and  asked  me  if  I  had  any  word  to  send  them, 
offering  to  carry  it  for  me.  I  wrote  them  that  the  Vigi- 
lantes were  after  them,  and  advised  them  to  leave." 

No  other  explanation  was  given ;  and  on  their  own  con- 
fessions, and  some  additional  proof  showing  that  "  Red  " 
had  made  inconsistent  statements  to  different  persons  be- 
longing to  the  Vigilantes,  while  passing  them  on  his  re- 
turn from  Cottonwood,  with  a  view  to  deceive  them  as  to 
the  whereabouts  of  Carter, —  the  company  withdrew  to 
the  Stinking  Water  bridge,  to  decide  upon  the  guilt  or 
innocence  of  the  prisoners. 

"  Boys,"  said  the  captain,  addressing  the  assemblage, 
"  you  have  heard  what  these  men  have  had  to  say  for  them- 
selves. I  want  you  to  vote  according  to  your  consciences. 
If  you  think  they  ought  to  suffer  punishment,  say  so;  if 
you  think  they  ought  to  go  free,  vote  for  it.  Be  very 
careful  to  do  the  right  thing  for  yourselves,  as  well  as  for 
the  prisoners.     All  those  in  favor  of  hanging  them,  step 


314,   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

to  the  right  side  of  the  bridge;  and  those  who  are  for  let- 
ting them  go,  to  the  left  side." 

So  thoroughly  convinced  were  the  men  of  the  guilt  and 
complicity  of  the  prisoners  with  the  road-agent  gang,  that 
every  man  passed  immediately  to  the  right. 

The  culprits  started  immediately,  under  the  escort  of 
seven  men  and  a  leader,  in  the  direction  of  Virginia  City. 
Two  hours  afterwards  they  arrived  at  Lorrain's  ranche, 
where  they  were  joined  at  sundown  by  the  other  members 
of  the  company,  who,  after  a  brief  consultation,  rode  on  to 
Virginia  Cit}-.  After  they  had  gone,  the  leader  lay  down 
in  his  blanket  on  the  parlor  floor,  to  snatch  a  few  hours  of 
repose.  Precisely  at  ten  o'clock,  he  was  awakened  by  a 
slight  shake,  and  the  words, 

"  The  hour  has  arrived.  We  mean  business,  and  are 
waiting  for  you." 

He  arose  and  went  to  the  bar-room,  wliere  Brown  and 
"  Red  "  lay  in  the  corner  asleep.  "  Red  "  was  the  first  to 
awaken.  Rising  to  his  feet,  he  addressed  the  leader  in  a 
sad  and  despondent  tone. 

"  You  have  treated  me  like  a  gentleman,"  said  he.  "  I 
know  that  my  time  has  come.     I  am  going  to  be  hanged." 

"That's  pretty  rough,  'Red,'"  interjected  the  leader. 

"  Yes.  It 's  pretty  rough,  but  I  merited  it  years  ago. 
What  I  want  to  say  is,  that  I  know  all  about  this  gang. 
There  are  men  in  it  who  deserve  death  more  than  I  do;  but 
I  should  die  happy,  if  I  could  see  them  hanged,  or  know 
it  would  be  done.  I  don't  say  this  to  git  off.  I  (jon't  want 
to  get  oflF." 

"  It  will  be  better  for  you,  '  Red,'  "  said  the  Vigilantes, 
"  at  this  time  to  give  us  all  the  information  in  your  posses- 
sion, if  only  f(ir  the  sake  of  your  kind.  Times  havo  been 
very  hard.  Men  have  been  shot  <lown  in  broad  daylight,  not 
alone  for  money,  or  cvi-n  hatred,  but  for  mere  luck  and 
sport,  and  tliis  must  have  a  stop  put  to  it." 


RESULT  OF  EXECUTION  315 

"  I  agree  to  it  all,"  replied  "  Red."  "  No  poor  country 
was  ever  cursed  with  a  more  bloodthirsty  or  meaner  pack 
of  villains  than  this, —  and  I  know  them  all." 

On  being  urged  by  the  leader  to  furnish  their  names, 
which  he  said  should  be  taken  down,  "  Red  "  told  him 
that  Henry  Plunnner  was  chief  of  the  band;  Bill  Bunton, 
stool  pigeon  and  second  in  command ;  George  Brown,  sec- 
retary; Sam  Bunton,  roadster;  Cyrus  Skinner,  fence,  spy, 
and  roadster;  George  Shears,  horse-thief  and  roadster; 
I' rank  Parish,  horse-thief  and  roadster ;  Hayes  Lyons, 
telegraph  man  and  roadster;  Bill  Hunter,  telegraph  man 
and  roadster;  Ned  Ray,  council-room  keeper  at  Bannack 
City ;  George  Ives,  Stephen  JMarshland,  Dutch  John  (Wag- 
ner), Alex  Carter,  Whiskey  Bill  (Graves),  Johnny  Cooper, 
Buck  Stinson,  Mexican  Frank,  Bob  Zachary,  Boone  Helm, 
Clubfoot  George  (Lane),  Billy  Terwiliger,  Gad  Moore, 
roadsters. 

These  men  were  bound  by  an  oath  to  be  true  to  each 
other,  and  were  required  to  perform  such  services  as  came 
witiiin  the  defined  meaning  of  their  separate  positions  in 
the  band.  The  penalty  of  disobedience  was  death.  If  any 
of  them,  under  any  circumstances,  divulged  any  of  the 
secrets  or  guilty  purposes  of  the  band,  he  was  to  be  fol- 
lowed and  shot  down  at  sight.  The  same  doom  was  pre- 
scribed for  any  outsiders  who  attempted  an  exposure  of 
their  criminal  designs,  or  arrested  any  of  them  for  the  com- 
mission of  crime.  Their  great  object  was  declared  to  be 
plunder,  in  all  cases,  without  taking  life  if  possible ;  but 
if  murder  was  necessary,  it  was  to  be  committed.  Their 
pass-word  was  "  Innocent."  Their  neckties  were  fastened 
with  a  sailor's  knot,  and  they  wore  mustaches  and  chin 
whiskers.  He  was  himself  a  member  of  the  band,  but  not 
a  murderer. 

Among  other  disclosures,  "  Red  "  attributed  his  hapless 
condition  to  Bill  Hunter,  at  whose  instigation,  years  be- 


316   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

fore,  he  Imd  entered  upon  a  career  of  infamy.  He  hoped 
the  committee  would  not  spare  him.  He  gave  the  par- 
ticulars of  the  robberies  of  the  coaches,  and  the  names  of 
all  engaged  in  this  as  well  as  many  other  crimes. 

After  listening  to  this  frightful  narrative,  and  making 
such  memoranda  as  they  might  need  for  future  operations, 
the  little  party  of  A'^igilantes  carefully  reconsidered  the 
vote  they  had  taken,  and  decided  that  the  two  culprits 
should  be  executed  immediately.  In  the  course  of  the  nar- 
rative, "  Red  "  had  fully  implicated  Brown.  In  the  Indian 
campaign  in  Minnesota  in  1862,  Brown  was  a  scout  for 
Gen.  William  R.  Marshall  (brother-in-law  of  the  writer), 
who  regarded  him  as  not  a  notoriously  bad  man,  but  as  one 
who  had  little  moral  principle  or  force  of  character, 
and  who  was  easily  influenced  by  his  associates. 

Less  than  a  quarter  of  a  mile  distant,  in  rear  of  Lor- 
rain's,  on  a  beautiful  curve  of  the  Pas-sam-a-ri,  stood  sev- 
eral majestic  cottonwoods,  by  far  the  finest  trees  in  all 
that  region.  Two,  which  stood  side  by  side,  were  selected 
as  the  scaffolds.  It  was  a  dim  starlit  night,  and  a  lantern 
was  necessary  to  complete  the  preparations  for  the  exe- 
cution. The  cold  blast  from  the  inunediatc  mountains 
howled  fearfully  as  the  little  procession  tramped  through 
the  snow,  with  their  prisoners  in  charge,  to  the  fatal  spot. 
The  night  was  not  darker  than  the  gloom  which  had  set- 
tled upon  the  minds  and  hearts  of  these  condemned 
wretches.  "  Red,"  however,  was  perfectly  collected.  Not 
a  sigh  escaped  him,  nor  a  tear  dimmed  his  eyes.  Brown 
was  all  excitement.  He  begged  piteously  for  mercy,  and 
prayed  for  his  Indian  wife  and  family.  They  were  in 
Minnesota.  "  Red,"  more  affected  by  the  terror  Jind  moans 
of  his  comrade  than  his  own  hapless  condition,  said  to  him 
in  a  sad  but  firm  tone, 

"  Brown,  if  you  had  thought  of  this  three  years  ago, 
you  would  n't  be  here  now,  or  give  the  boys  this  trouble." 


RESULT  OF  EXECUTION  317 

A  few  bijinc-hes  were  clipped  from  a  lower  limb  of  each 
of  the  trees,  and  the  ropes  suspended.  Two  stools  brought 
from  the  ranche,  by  being  placed  one  upon  the  other,  served 
the  purpose  of  a  drop.  A  Vigilante,  while  adjusting  the 
noose  to  the  neck  of  Brown,  stumbled,  and  both  he  and 
Brown  fell  together  into  the  snow.  Recovering  himself, 
he  said,  by  way  of  apology, 

"  We  must  do  better  than  that,  Brown." 

It  was  a  chance  remark,  proceeding  from  a  motive  which 
it  failed  to  express ;  better  interpreted  by  those  who  heard 
it,  than  I  fear  it  will  be  by  my  readers. 

When  all  was  ready.  Brown,  with  the  petition  upon  his 
lips,  "  God  Almighty  save  my  soul,"  was  launched  from 
the  platform,  and  died  without  a  struggle. 

"  Red  "  witnessed  the  scene  unmoved.  When  his  turn 
came,  and  he  stood  upon  the  frail  trestle,  he  looked  calmly 
around  upon  his  executioners. 

"  I  knew,"  said  he,  "  that  I  should  be  followed  and 
hanged,  when  I  met  the  party  in  Deer  Lodge  Valley ;  but  I 
wish  you  would  chain  me,  and  not  hang  me  until  after  I 
have  seen  those  punished  who  are  guiltier  than  I." 

Just  before  he  fell,  he  shook  hands  with  all,  and  then 
turning  to  the  Vigilante  who  had  escorted  him  to  Lorrain's, 
he  said, 

"  Let  me  beg  of  you  to  follow  and  punish  the  rest  of 
this  infernal  gang." 

"  '  Red,'  "  replied  the  man,  "  we  will  do  it,  if  there  's 
any  such  thing  in  the  book." 

"  Good-bye,  boys,"  said  "  Red,"  "  you  're  on  a  good  un- 
dertaking.    God  bless  you." 

The  stools  fell,  and  the  body  of  the  intrepid  freebooter 
swung  lifeless  in  the  midnight  blast. 


CHAPTER  XXXII 

LLOYD  MAGRUDER 

IN  the  name  of  all  that  is  wonderful,  Hill,  what  has  kept 
you  up  till  this  late  hour?  "  was  the  eager  inquiry  of 
Mrs.  Maggie  Beachy  of  her  husband,  when  that  gentle- 
man entered  his  house  at  two  o'clock  in  the  morning. 

"  Well,  Maggie,"  replied  her  husband,  "  you  remember 
my  dream  about  Lloyd  Magruder?  I  fear  it  has  all  come 
true.  Indeed,  I  am  perfectly  certain  poor  Llo^d  has  been 
murdered." 

"Nonsense,  Hill,"  rejoined  the  wife.  "Will  you  never 
have  done  with  your  unfounded  suspicions?  You  will  make 
yourself  the  laughing-stock  of  the  whole  country,  and 
bring  all  the  roughs  in  it  about  your  ears,  if  you  don't 
cease  talking  about  Magruder." 

"  I  can't  help  it,  wife,"  persisted  Beachy.  "  Those  three 
rascals.  Doc.  Howard,  Chris  I^owry,  and  Jim  Romaine, 
with  another  hangdog-looking  fellow,  came  into  town  to- 
night in  disguise,  and,  under  assumed  names,  took  passage 
in  the  coach  to  Walla  Walla.  They  followed  Magruder 
to  the  Bannack  mines,  and  have  doubtless  killed  him  while 
on  his  way  home.  Their  cantinas  are  filled  with  his  gold 
dust." 

"  How  improbable,  Hill,"  said  Mrs.  Beachy,  smiling. 
"  Why,  only  yesterday  Lloyd's  wife  received  a  letter  from 
him,  saying  that  he  would  not  start  for  twelve  days,  and 
that  he  would  have  a  strong  company  with  him." 

"  Well,  well,  Maggie,  let  's  drop  the  subject.  Time  will 
tell  whether  my  suspicions  are  correct." 

318 


LLOYD  MAGRUDER  319 

Let  us  inquire  into  the  cause  of  Hill  Bcachy's  terrible 
suspicion. 

Three  months  before  this  conversation  occurred,  Lloyd 
Magruder,  a  wealthy  merchant  of  Elk  City,  loaded  a  pack 
train  with  merchandise,  and  made  the  long  and  danger- 
ous journey  of  five  hundred  miles,  by  an  Indian  trail 
over  the  mountains,  to  the  Bannack  mines,  in  that  part  of 
Idaho  afterwards  embraced  in  the  boundaries  of  Montana. 
The  night  preceding  his  departure.  Hill  Beachy,  the  land- 
lord of  the  Luna  House  in  Lewiston,  a  warm  personal 
friend  of  Magruder,  dreamed  that  he  saw  Chris  Lowry 
dash  Magruder's  brains  out  with  an  axe.  He  related  the 
dream  to  his  wife  the  next  morning,  and  expressed  great 
fears  for  the  safety  of  his  friend.  She  was  desirous  of 
telling  Magruder ;  but  as  his  investment  was  large,  and  he 
was  ready  to  start  upon  his  journey,  Beachy  thought  it 
would  only  introduce  a  disturbing  element  into  the  enter- 
prise, without  effecting  its  abandonment,  and  expose  him 
to  the  laughter  and  sneers  of  the  public.  But  he  did  not 
conceal  the  anxiety  which  the  dream  had  occasioned  in  his 
own  mind,  and  was  greatly  relieved  when  news  came,  six 
weeks  afterwards,  of  the  safe  arrival  of  Magruder  at 
Bannack. 

On  the  morning  of  the  day  after  Magruder  left  Lewis- 
ton,  Howard,  Lowry,  and  Romaine,  in  company  with  Bob 
Zacharj'  and  three  other  roughs,  departed  with  the  avowed 
intention  of  going  to  Oregon.  As  soon,  however,  as  they 
had  proceeded  a  sufficient  distance  in  that  direction  to 
escape  observation,  they  turned  towards  Bannack,  and 
after  a  few  days'  journey  were  joined  by  William  Page, 
an  old  mountain  teamster.  The  party  followed  on  in  the 
track  of  Magruder's  train,  which  they  overtook  when 
within  three  days'  journey  of  Bannack,  and  accompanied 
it  to  its  place  of  destination. 

Magruder  was  disappointed,  on  his  arrival  at  Bannack, 


320  VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

to  learn  that  the  camp  had  been  deserted  by  most  of  the 
miners,  who  had  gone  to  the  extensive  placer  mines  in 
Alder  Gulch  at  Virginia  City,  seventy-five  miles  distant, 
where  the  writer  was  then  residing.  Three  days  after- 
wards, however,  he  was  well  satisfied,  on  his  arrival  there, 
to  find  an  active  mining  camp  of  six  thousand  inhabitants, 
all  eager  to  purchase  his  wares  as  rapidly  as  they  could 
be  displayed.  Howard,  Lowry,  Romaine,  and  Page  found 
comfortable  quarters  in  the  building  occupied  by  Magru- 
der,  and  were  provided  by  him  with  employment  during  his 
six  weeks'  stay  in  Virginia  City.  No  one,  except  himself, 
knew  better  than  they  the  amount  of  his  accumulations. 
His  confidence  in  them  was  unbounded.  On  his  offer  to 
pay  them  two  hundred  dollars  each,  they  had  agreed  to 
accompany  him  as  assistants  and  guards  on  his  return 
to  Lewiston.  The  negotiations  with  Magruder  for  their 
employment  were  conducted  by  Howard,  who  was  a  physi- 
cian of  marked  ability,  and  whose  pleasing  address  was  well 
calculated  to  allay  all  suspicion  concerning  their  real  mo- 
tives in  joining  the  party.  Howard,  Lowry,  and  Romaine, 
while  at  Lewiston,  were  classed  among  the  vilest  roughs 
of  the  town.  The  former  two  were  understood  to  be  es- 
caped convicts  from  the  California  penitentiary.  They 
had  been  concerned  in  numerous  robberies,  and  were  sus- 
pected of  connection  with  Plummcr's  infamous  gang. 
Magruder,  whose  residence  was  at  Elk  City,  was  entirely 
unacquainted  with  their  history,  and,  from  the  simulated 
fidelity  of  their  conduct  while  in  his  employ,  had  no  rea- 
son to  suspect  them  of  criminal  designs.  He  was  very  for- 
tunate in  the  disposition  of  his  merchandise,  realizing 
therefor  twenty-four  thousand  dollars  in  gold  dust,  and 
a  drove  of  seventy  fine  nniles. 

A  few  days  before  his  departure  from  Virginia  City, 
Charley  Allen,  a  successful  miner,  and  two  young  men, 
brothers,  by  the  name  of  Horace  and  Robert  Chalmers, 


I 


LLOYD  MAGRUDER  321 

who  had  just  arrived  in  the  mountains  from  Booneville, 
Missouri,  and  William  Phillips,  an  old  pioneer  in  the  coun- 
try, arranged  to  unite  their  trains  with  his,  and  all  make 
the  trip  together  as  one  company.  Romaine  tried  to  dis- 
suade Phillips  from  going  with  the  others,  but  gave  no 
reason  for  what  seemed  to  the  latter  a  strange  request. 

It  was  a  bright  October  morning  when  the  train  left 
Virginia  City,  and  moved  slowly  down  Alder  Creek,  into 
the  picturesque  valley  of  the  Pas-sam-a-ri.  The  sun  shone ; 
the  mountain  atmosphere  was  crisp  and  exhilarating. 
The  long  plain  stretching  away  to  the  base  of  the  Ruby 
range  reflected  upon  its  mirror-like  surface  that  magni- 
ficent group  of  pine-covered  mountains,  along  whose  sides 
glinted  in  the  sunbeams  the  bewitching  hues  that  give  them 
their  name.  Towering  on  the  right,  rose  the  twin  pinnacles 
of  Ramshorn  and  Mill  Creek ;  and,  afar  in  the  distance, 
painted  upon  the  horizon,  was  the  superb  outline  of  the 
main  range  of  the  old  Rockies,  and  Table  Mountain  lift- 
ing its  glittering  plateau  of  snow  far  above  the  surround- 
ing peaks.  Filled  with  the  inspiration  naturally  enkindled 
by  these  majestic  views,  the  men,  with  all  the  animation  and 
abandon  of  uncaged  schoolboys,  shouted  and  sung  as  they 
galloped  along  and  hurried  the  train  across  the  widespread 
valley.  Into  the  hills,  over  the  mountains,  across  the 
streams,  through  the  canons  they  scampered,  entering 
Bannack  the  third  day,  just  as  the  sun  was  setting. 

Business  detained  them  at  Bannack  the  three  following 
days.  With  the  design  of  misleading  the  villains  at  Lewis- 
ton  who  might  be  on  the  watch  for  his  return,  IVIagruder 
sent  by  a  company  which  left  the  morning  after  his  ar- 
rival, a  letter  to  his  wife,  telling  her  of  his  success,  and 
that  he  would  leave  for  home  with  a  train  strongly  guarded, 
in  twelve  days.  While  he  was  thus  planning  the  way  for 
a  safe  return,  Howard  was  equally  busy  in  maturing  a 
scheme  to  rob  him  on  the  route.     This  infernal  project, 


322   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

the  fruit  of  long  contemplation,  he  now  for  the  first  time 
unfolded  to  Lowry  and  Ilomainc,  who  gave  it  their  eager 
compliance.  Meeting  with  Boh  Zachary,  he  confided  it  to 
him;  but,  on  learning  that  it  could  not  be  effected  without 
the  possible  murder  of  Magruder,  and  the  four  persons  ac- 
com{)an}ing  him,  Zachary,  villain  as  lie  was,  declined  all 
participation  in  it.  It  was  understood  by  the  three  that 
on  the  eighth  day  of  the  journey,  when  the  train  would 
make  camp  in  the  Bitter  Root  Mountains,  at  a  distance  of 
one  hundred  miles  or  more  from  any  white  settlers,  they 
would  carry  their  diabolical  design  into  execution.  Howard 
declared  that  it  could  not  be  done  without  killing  the  five 
owners  of  the  trains.  Page  was  to  be  kept  in  ignorance 
of  the  plot  until  the  eve  of  its  performance. 

Animated  with  the  hope  of  an  early  reunion  with  his 
family,  IMagruder,  with  his  companions,  left  Bannack  one 
bright  autumnal  morning,  and  dashed  with  his  train  into 
the  manifold  intricacies  of  the  mountain  labyrinth.  The 
burden  of  care  with  which  one  is  oppressed,  while  travel- 
ling through  an  uninhabited  region,  exposed  continually 
to  the  attacks  of  Indians  and  robbers,  is  always  relieved 
by  a  sort  of  wild  exhilaration  inseparable  from  the  shift- 
ing of  scenery,  and  the  varied  occupations  and  incidents 
of  the  journey.  And  when  day  after  day  passes,  without 
any  change  in  the  same  monotonous  round  of  employment, 
men  sometimes  desire  the  variety  of  a  brush  with  the  In- 
dians, or  a  deer  chase,  or  an  antelope  hunt,  to  ward  off 
their  mental  depression.  But  save  an  occasional  foray 
upon  a  herd  of  antelopes,  the  train  moved  safely  onward, 
without  impediment.  The  three  ruffians  were  particularly 
attentive  to  the  duties  required  of  them,  winning  golden 
opinions  from  those  they  intended  to  destroy. 

On  the  evening  of  the  sixth  day,  the  train  descended  into 
the  valley  of  the  Bitter  Root.  The  lofty  range  of  moun- 
tains which  now  forms  the  boundary  between  Montana  and 


LLOYD  MAGRUDER  328 

Idaho  stretched  ;ik)iig  tlie  horizon  displaying  alternate 
reaches  illumined  b}'  the  departing  rays  of  the  sun,  and 
darkened  by  the  shadows  of  overhanging  clouds. 

"  In  three  days  more,"  said  Magruder,  "  we  shall  de- 
scend the  range  into  Idaho,  and  all  danger  will  be  over." 

Near  the  close  of  the  second  day  thereafter,  as  the  mules 
were  slowly  creeping  up  the  trail,  when  near  the  summit, 
Howard  rode  alongside  of  Page,  and  in  a  tone  of  fearful 
earnestness  said  to  him, 

"  Page,  when  we  go  into  camp,  to-night,  drive  the  mules 
half  a  mile  away,  and  remain  with  them  till  supper  time. 
We  are  going  to  kill  Magrudcr  and  his  four  friends.  You 
can  help  dispose  of  the  bodies  when  the  work  is  done,  and 
share  in  the  plunder.  As  you  value  your  own  life,  you  will 
not  breathe  a  word  of  this  to  any  one." 

Had  a  thunderbolt  fallen  at  the  feet  of  Page,  he  could 
not  have  been  more  terrified.  Reckless  as  his  life  had  been, 
no  stain  of  blood  was  on  his  soul.  Gladly  would  he  have 
warned  Magruder,  but  the  fearful  threat  of  Howard  was  in 
his  way.  Besides,  as  Howard  had  grown  into  great  favor, 
he  felt  that  he  would  not  be  believed.  He  decided  the  con- 
flict with  conscience  by  resolving  to  follow  the  directions  of 
the  conspirators. 

The  spot  was  not  unfamiliar.  It  had  been  often  oc- 
cupied for  camping  purposes,  and  was  specially  favored 
with  water  and  pasturage.  It  was  also  sheltered  by  the 
impenetrable  foliage  of  a  clump  of  dwarf  pines  and  red- 
woods. Five  minutes'  clamber  of  the  vertebrated  peak 
which  rose  abruptly  above  the  camp-fire,  would  enable  one 
to  survey  for  many  miles  the  vast  volcanic  region  of  moun- 
tains, hills,  and  canons  over  which  the  trail  of  the  traveller, 
like  a  dusky  thread,  stretched  on  towards  Lewiston. 

The  train  drew  up  on  the  camping  ground  a  little  be- 
fore dark.  The  sky  was  overcast  with  snow  clouds,  and 
the  wind  blew  chill  and  bleak.     Every  sign  indicated  the 


324  VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

approach  of  one  of  those  fearful  snowstorms  common  at 
all  seasons  in  these  high  altitudes.  All  the  men  except 
Page,  who  was  with  the  herd,  were  gathered  around  the 
camp-fire,  awaiting  supper.  As  Page,  staggering  under 
the  burden  of  his  guilty  secret,  came  to  the  camp  in  answer 
to  a  call  to  supper,  Howard  met  him,  and  in  an  ominous 
whisper,  warned  him  to  retire  as  soon  as  his  meal  was  fin- 
ished, and  not  to  be  seen  about  the  camp  until  he  was 
wanted. 

Magruder  and  Lowry  were  assigned  to  stand  guard  and 
watch  the  herd  until  ten  o'clock, —  the  hour  agreed  upon 
for  the  commission  of  the  crime.  Page  had  built  a  fire  for 
their  accommodation.  As  they  rose  to  leave  the  camp, 
Lowry,  picking  up  an  axe,  remarked, 

"  We  shall  probably  need  some  wood,  and  I  '11  take  the 
axe  along." 

Their  departure  was  regarded  as  a  signal  for  all  to  re- 
tire. Page  had  spread  his  blankets  and  lain  down  some 
time  before,  '"  not,"  as  he  afterwards  said,  "  to  sleep,  but 
to  await  the  course  of  events."  Allen  crept  in  by  his  side. 
The  Chalmers  brothers  had  made  their  bed  twenty  yards 
distant  from  the  camp-fire;  and  Romalne,  armed  to  per- 
form the  part  assigned  to  him,  stretched  himself  beside 
Phillips,  his  unsuspecting  victim.  Howard,  the  arch  and 
bloody  instigator  of  the  brutal  tragedy,  demon-like,  roamed 
at  large,  ready  for  any  service,  when  the  hour  came,  neces- 
sary to  finish  the  deed. 

The  evening  wore  on.  The  sleep  of  toil-worn  men  comes 
when  it  is  sought ;  and  soon  the  only  wakeful  eyes  in  the 
camp  were  those  of  the  watchers  at  the  herd,  Howard,  Ro- 
maine,  and  the  wretched  Page. 

The  friendly  conversation  between  Magruder  and 
Lowry,  as  they  sat  side  by  side  at  the  fire,  was  not  inter- 
rupted, until  the  former  looked  at  his  watch. 


1 


LLOYD  MAGRUDER  825 

"  It  is  nearly  ten,"  said  he,  filling  his  meerschaum,  while 
unconsciously  announcing  the  hour  of  his  doom. 

"  I  will  put  some  wood  on  the  fire,"  said  Lowry,  picking 
up  the  axe,  and  rising. 

Magruder  bent  forward  towards  the  fire  to  light  his 
meerschaum,  when  the  axe  wielded  by  Lowry  descended  with 
a  fearful  crash  into  his  brain.  Howard,  who  had  been  con- 
cealed near,  sprung  forward,  and  snatching  the  axe  from 
Lowry,  who  seemed  for  the  moment  paralyzed  at  the  deed 
he  had  committed,  struck  several  additional  blows  upon 
the  already  lifeless  body  of  the  unfortunate  man.  The 
villains  then  hurried  to  the  spot  where  the  Chalmers 
brothers  were  lying,  and  while  they  were  despatching  them 
with  the  axe,  Romaine  plunged  a  bowie-knife  into  the  abdo- 
men of  Phillips,  exclaiming  at  the  moment,  with  an  oath, 

"  You  old  fool,  I  have  to  kill  you.  I  told  you  at  Virginia 
City  not  to  come." 

Allen,  wakened  by  the  death  groan  of  young  Chalmers, 
had  risen  to  a  sitting  posture,  and  was  rubbing  his  eyes, 
when  Howard  stole  behind  him,  and  blew  out  his  brains, 
by  a  simultaneous  discharge  of  buckshot  from  both  bar- 
rels of  his  gun  into  the  back  part  of  Allen's  head. 

The  work  of  assassination  was  complete.  The  mur- 
derers, unharmed,  were  in  possession  of  the  gold  which  had 
caused  the  dreadful  deed. 

Page,  who  had  not  left  his  bed,  was  now  summoned  by 
Howard  to  assist  in  the  concealment  of  the  bodies.  Know- 
ing that  his  life  would  pay  the  forfeit  of  disobedience,  he 
hurried  to  the  camp-fire,  where  Lowry  greeted  him  with 
the  soul-sickening  words, 

"  It 's  a  grand  success.  Bill.  We  never  made  a  false 
stroke." 

A  heavy  snowstorm  now  set  in.  The  assassins  occupied 
the  remainder  of  the  night  in  destroying  and  removing  the 
evidences  of  their  guilt.     The  bodies  of  their  victims  were 


326   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

wrapped  In  blankets,  conveyed  to  the  summit  of  an  adja- 
cent ridgf,  and  cast  over  a  precipice  into  a  canon  eight 
hundred  feet  deep,  where  it  was  supposed  they  would  be 
speedily  devoured  by  wolves.  The  camp  equipage,  sad- 
dles, straps,  blankets,  guns,  pistols,  everything  not  re- 
tained for  innnediate  convenience,  were  burned,  and  all  the 
iron  scraps  carefully  collected,  put  into  a  sack,  and  cast 
over  the  precipice.  All  the  while  these  guilty  deeds  were 
in  progress,  the  storm  was  increasing.  When  the  morning 
dawned,  not  a  vestige  of  the  ghastly  tragedy  was  visible. 
The  camp  was  carpeted  to  the  depth  of  two  feet  with 
snow,  and  the  tempest  still  raged.  The  murderers  con- 
gratulated each  other  upon  their  success.  No  remorseful 
sensations  disturbed  their  relish  for  a  hearty  breakfast. 
No  contrite  emotions  affected  the  greedy  delight  with  which 
each  miscreant  received  his  share  of  the  blood-bought 
treasure.  No  dread  lest  the  eye  of  the  All-seeing,  who 
alone  had  witnessed  their  dark  and  damning  atrocity, 
should  betray  them,  mingled  with  the  promises  they  made 
to  themselves  of  pleasures  and  pursuits  that  this  ill-gotten 
gain  would  buy  in  the  world  where  they  were  going.  One 
solitary  fear  haunted  them, — that  concerning  their  escape 
from  the  country. 

When  this  all-absorbing  subject  was  mentioned,  they  saw 
and  felt  the  necessity  of  avoiding  Lewiston ;  their  presence 
there  would  excite  suspicion.  Howard  advised  that  they 
should  go  to  a  ford  of  the  Clearwater,  fifty  miles  above 
Lewiston,  and  cross  over  and  make  a  hurried  journey  to 
Puget  Sound.  There  they  could  take  passage  on  a  steamer 
to  San  Francisco  or  to  British  Columbia,  as  after  events 
might  dictate.  This  counsel  was  adopted.  Mounting  their 
liorses,  tlu'V  made  a  last  scrutinizing  survey  of  the  scene 
of  their  hellish  tragedy,  now  covered  with  snow,  and 
plunged  down  the  western  slope  of  the  mountains,  amid 
the  rocks  and  canons  of  Northern  Idaho.     The  expression 


LLOYD  MAGRUDER  327 

of  Howard,  as  he  reined  Ills  horse  away  from  the  bloody 
theatre,  may  be  received  as  an  indication  of  the  sentiments 
by  which  all  wore  animated. 

"  No  one,"  said  he,  "  will  ever  discover  from  anything 
here  the  performance  in  which  we  have  been  engaged.  If 
wc  are  only  true  to  each  other,  boys,  all  is  safe." 

The  animals,  with  the  exception  of  one  horse  and  seven 
mules,  were  abandoned,  but  accustomed  to  follow  the  tinkle 
of  the  bell  still  suspended  to  the  neck  of  the  horse,  the  herd 
soon  appeared  straggling  along  the  trail  behind  the  com- 
pany. The  heartless  wretches,  thinking  to  frighten  the 
animals  away,  at  first  shot  them  one  by  one  as  they  came 
within  rifle  distance.  Finding  that  the  others  continued 
to  follow,  they  finally  drove  the  entire  herd,  seventy  or 
more  in  number,  into  a  canon  near  the  trail,  and  mercilessly 
slaughtered  all  the  animals  composing  it. 

Avoiding  Elk  City  by  a  circuitous  route,  the  party, 
after  several  days'  travel,  arrived  at  the  ford  of  the  Clear- 
water. Two  broad  channels  of  the  river  at  this  crossing 
encircled  a  large  island.  A  mountain  torrent  at  its  best, 
the  river  was  swollen  by  recent  rains,  and  its  current  run- 
ning with  frightful  velocity.  Page,  who  was  perfectly 
familiar  with  the  ford,  dashed  in,  and  was  followed  by 
Lowry.  They  were  obliged  to  swim  their  mules  before 
reaching  the  island,  and  had  still  a  deeper  channel  to  cross 
beyond.  Romaine  and  Howard,  who  had  witnessed  the 
passage  from  the  bank,  were  afraid  to  risk  it.  A  long  par- 
ley ensued,  which  finally  terminated  in  the  return  of  Page 
and  Lowry,  and  an  abandonment  of  the  ford.  A  single 
day's  rations  was  all  the  food  the  company  now  possessed. 
None  could  be  obtained  for  several  days,  except  at  Lewis- 
ton,  the  mention  whereof  brought  their  crime  before  the 
ruffians  with  terrible  distinctness.  But  there  was  no  alter- 
native. Risk  of  detection,  while  a  chance  presented  for 
escape,  was  preferable  to  physical  suffering,  from  which 


328  VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

there  was  none.  They  encountered  the  risk.  Near  Lewis- 
ton  thc'j  fell  in  with  a  ranchenian,  to  whom  they  committed 
their  animals,  with  instructions  to  keep  them  until  their 
return,  and,  concealing  their  faces  with  mufflers,  entered 
the  town  at  a  late  hour  of  the  evening. 

With  the  design  of  stealing  a  boat,  and  making  a  night 
trip  down  Snake  River,  to  some  point  accessible  to  the 
I'ortland  steamboats,  tjiey  proceeded  at  once  to  tiie  river 
bank  fronting  the  town.  Piling  their  baggage  into  the 
first  boat  they  came  to,  they  pushed  out  into  the  stream. 
The  wind  was  blowing  fearfully,  and  the  maddened  river 
rolled  a  miniature  sea.  They  had  proceeded  but  a  few 
rods  when  a  sudden  lurch  of  the  boat  satisfied  them  that  the 
voyage  was  impracticable,  and  they  returned  to  shore. 

Their  only  alternative  now  was  to  secure  a  passage  that 
night  in  the  coach  for  Walla  Walla,  or  remain  in  Lewiston 
at  the  risk  of  being  recognized  the  next  day.  It  was  a 
dark,  blustering  night.  Hill  Beachy,  whose  invariable  cus- 
tom it  was  to  retire  from  the  office  at  nine  o'clock,  from 
some  inexplicable  cause  became  oblivious  of  the  hour,  and 
was  seated  by  the  stove,  glancing  over  the  columns  of  a 
much-worn  paper.  His  clerk  stood  at  the  desk,  preparing 
the  way-bill  for  the  coach,  which  left  an  hour  later  for 
Walla  Walla.  The  street  door  was  locked.  Suddenly  the 
silence  without  was  broken  by  the  heavy  tramp  of  approach- 
ing footsteps.  A  nmffled  face  peered  through  the  window. 
Beachy's  attention  was  arrested  by  a  hesitating  triple 
knock  upon  the  door,  which  seemed  to  him  at  the  time 
ominous  of  Avrong.  Catching  up  the  lamp,  he  hurried  to 
the  door,  on  opening  which  a  tall,  well-proportioned  man, 
in  closely  buttoned  overcoat,  with  only  his  eyes  and  the 
upper  portion  of  his  nose  visible,  entered,  and  with  a 
nervous,  agitated  step,  by  a  strangely  indirect,  circular 
movement,  advanced  to  the  desk  where  the  clerk  was 
standing. 


I.LOYD  MAGRUDER  329 

Addressing  the  clerk  in  a  subdued  tone,  he  said,  "  I 
want  four  tickets  for  Walla  Walla." 

"  We  issue  no  tickets,"'  replied  the  clerk,  "  but  will  en- 
ter your  names  on  the  way-bill.  What  names  ? "  he 
inquired. 

For  a  moment  the  stranger  was  nonplussed.  Recover- 
ing himself  instantly,  with  seeming  nonchalance,  he  gave 
the  names  of  John  Smith  and  his  brother  Joseph,  Thomas 
Jones  and  his  brother  Jim ;  and,  throwing  three  double 
eagles  upon  the  desk,  he  hastily  departed. 

As  he  closed  the  door,  Beachy  said  to  the  clerk,  "  I  'm 
afraid  there  will  be  a  stage  robbery  to-night.  Go  to  the 
express-office  and  tell  the  agent  not  to  send  the  treasure 
chest  by  this  coach.  Don't  wake  the  passenger  in  the  next 
room.  I  will  see  the  citizens  who  have  secured  passage, 
and  request  them  to  wait  until  to-morrow." 

Still  reflecting  upon  the  suspicious  conduct  of  the  visi- 
tor, Beachy  determined  to  get  a  sight  of  his  companions. 
"  There  are  too  many  Smiths  and  Joneses  to  be  all  right," 
he  said  to  himself,  as  he  slipped  the  hood  over  his  dark 
lantern  and  took  his  way  to  the  hotel  where  they  lodged. 
Ascertaining  that  their  apartment  fronted  the  street,  he 
stole  quietly  up  to  the  window,  which  was  protected  by 
shutters  with  adjustable  lattice.  This,  by  a  cautious 
process,  he  opened,  and,  peering  through,  beheld  the  four 
inmates,  three  of  whom  he  recognized  as  the  ruffians  wiio 
had  left  Lewiston  and  gone  to  Bannack  three  months  before. 

]More  deeply  confirmed  than  at  the  first  in  the  belief 
that  a  robbery  was  intended,  he  awaited  the  approach  of 
the  coach,  designing  to  make  a  careful  survey  of  the  group 
after  they  were  seated  preparatory  to  departure.  Fifteen 
or  twenty  persons,  who  had  heard  of  Beachy's  suspicions, 
several  of  whom  were  old  associates  of  Howard  and  his 
companions,  followed  the  coach  from  the  barn  to  the  hotel. 

Enveloped     in     overcoats     and    blankets,    their     faces 


330   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

concealed  by  mufflers,  and  their  hats  drawn  down  to  hide 
their  ejes,  the  four  men  climbed  into  the  coach.  Just  as 
the  driver  gathered  up  his  lines  Beachy  opened  his  lantern, 
and  before  the  men  could  wrap  their  blankets  around  them, 
his  quick  e3'e  detected  that  two  of  the  number  had  each  a 
pair  of  well-filled  cantinas  on  his  lap.  After  the  coach  had 
driven  off,  he  turned  to  Judge  Berry,  who  was  standing 
near,  and,  in  a  low  but  meaning  tone,  said, 

"  Lloyd  Magruder  has  been  murdered." 

"  What  makes  you  think  so.'^  "  inquired  the  judge.  "  Do 
you  recognize  these  fellows?  " 

"  Yes,  three  of  them :  Howard,  Lowry,  and  Romaine. 
Their  cantinas  are  filled  with  Magruder's  money.  I  '11 
furnish  horses  and  pay  all  expenses  if  you  and  the  sheriff 
will  join  me,  and  we  '11  arrest  them  to-night." 

"  Arrest  them  for  what?  "  asked  the  judge. 

"  On  suspicion  of  having  murdered  Magruder." 

"  Why,  Hill,  the  whole  town  would  laugh  at  us.  We 
certainly  could  not  detain  them  without  evidence.  Be- 
sides, your  suspicions  are  groundless.  Mrs.  Magruder 
told  me  last  evening  that  she  did  not  expect  her  husband 
for  ten  or  twelve  days.     Let  matters  rest  for  the  present." 

"  I  know  that  Magruder  is  dead,  and  that  these  villains 
killed  him,  as  well  as  if  I  had  seen  it  done,"  rejoined  Beachy. 
"  From  this  time  forth,  I  am  on  their  track." 

Bidding  the  judge  good-night,  he  wended  his  way  home, 
and,  on  entering  his  house,  held  the  conversation  with  his 
wife  with  which  this  chapter  opens. 


CHAPTER  XXXIII 

HILL  BEACHY 

MR.  BEACHY'S  convictions  gave  him  no  rest.  With- 
out a  shadow  of  evidence  to  sustain  him,  or  a  clew 
to  guide  him,  he  went  to  work  to  ferret  out  the  crime.  His 
friends  hiughed  at  and  discouraged  him.  The  roughs  of 
Lewiston  threatened  him.  A  few  charitably  attributed  his 
conduct  to  mental  derangement.  The  face  of  every  per- 
son he  met  wore  a  quizzical  expression,  which  seemed  to 
imply  both  pity  and  ridicule.  Often,  when  thwarted,  he 
half  resolved  to  abandon  the  pursuit,  but  a  voice  within 
whispered  him  on  with  assurance  of  success,  and  he  could 
not,  if  he  would,  recede.  Three  days  were  spent  in  a  fruit- 
less search  for  the  animals  which  he  knew  must  have  borne 
the  men  to  town.  At  the  close  of  the  third  day  a  party  ar- 
rived from  Bannack.  The  first  inquiry  he  addressed  to 
them  after  the  usual  salutation  was, 

"  Where  is  Magruder?  " 

"Hasn't  he  arrived?"  was  the  surprised  rejoinder. 
"  He  left  four  days  before  us,  intending  to  come  through 
as  quickly  as  possible." 

Beachy  heard  no  more. 

"  He  is  dead,"  said  he,  "  and  I  know  the  murderers." 

"  Tut,  tut.  Hill,  you  're  too  fast.  He  has  probably  gone 
around  by  Salt  Lake.     He  '11  be  in  all  safe  in  a  few  days." 

Beachy  resumed  his  search  for  the  animals.  In  a  few 
days  a  man  came  in  from  some  point  above  Lewiston,  and 
reported  having  seen,  on  his  ride  down  the  river,  a  party  of 
four   men   encamped   in   a  solitary  nook  on  the  opposite 

331 


332  VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

bank.  The  thought  flaslicd  through  Beachy's  brain  that 
tlicy  were  the  murderers,  who,  thwarted  in  their  effort  to 
leave  the  country  at  Walla  Walla,  had  returned  by  a  cir- 
cuitous route,  in  search  of  a  point  more  favorable. 

In  Tom  Farrell,  a  harum-scarum  dare-devil  of  the  town, 
Beachy  found  one  man  who  shared  his  suspicions.  He  con- 
sented to  go  with  him  and  aid  him  in  arresting  these  men. 
It  was  freezing  weather,  and  the  trail  was  rough  and  moun- 
tainous. Both  men  were  well  armed  and  of  undoubted 
courage.  Urging  their  horses  to  their  utmost  speed,  they 
rode  on  till  past  the  hour  of  noon,  when  Tom  descried  a 
thin  colunm  of  smoke  ascending  from  the  camp  of  the  sup- 
posed freebooters.  Securing  their  horses  in  a  thicket,  they 
crept  to  a  point  where,  concealed  by  the  willows,  they  could 
observe  all  parts  of  the  camp.  Alas  for  their  hopes !  Tho 
suspected  robbers  developed  into  a  hunting  party  of  hon- 
est miners,  who  were  enjoying  a  little  holiday  sport  in  the 
mountains.  Worn  down  with  fatigue  and  anxiety,  they 
returned  to  Lewiston,  to  encounter  afresh  the  gibes  and 
sneers  of  the  people  at  the  failure  of  this  sorry  expedition. 

Another  day  of  patient  search  was  rewarded  with  the 
discovery  of  the  rancheman  who  had  possession  of  the 
animals.  Beachy  returned  from  a  visit  to  his  ranche,  bring- 
ing with  him  one  horse  and  seven  mules,  and  the  saddles, 
bridles,  and  other  accoutrements,  which  he  submitted  to 
the  inspection  of  the  citizens.  Not  an  article  was  identi- 
fied as  the  property  of  Magruder.  One  man  thought  an 
old  saddle  resembled  one  that  he  had  seen  in  Magruder's 
possession,  but,  as  old  saddles  were  plenty,  this  one,  with- 
out any  distinctive  marks,  was  valueless  as  evidence. 

Thus  far  Beachy's  investigations  had  only  involved  the 
subject  in  deeper  mystery ;  but  as  day  after  day  passed, 
bringing  no  tidings  of  his  friend,  he  felt  an  increasing  con- 
viction of  the  great  evil  that  had  befallen  him.  Reflecting 
upon  the  partial  identification  of  the  saddle,  "  Perhaps," 


HILL    BEACHV 

Lloyd  Magruder's  avenger 


HILL  BEACHY  333 

thouglit  lie,  "  this  may  furnish  a  clew.  If  the  saddle  ever 
belonged  to  Magruder,  some  of  his  family  will  identify  it. 
I  have  it.  Jack  will  certainly  know  it.  I  can  but  try  him." 
He  suspended  the  saddle  on  a  small  peg  attached  to  the 
stall  occupied  by  his  pacing-horse. 

Jack  was  an  Indian  boy  who  had  been  Magruder's 
hostler  for  several  years.  Late  in  the  afternoon  Beachy 
met  him. 

"  Jack,"  said  he,  accosting  him,  "  don't  you  want  to 
take  a  ride?  " 

"  I  am  always  ready  for  that,  Mr.  Beachy." 

"  Well,  our  cows  have  n't  come  home  to-night.  I  '11  have 
my  pony  in  the  stable  in  ten  minutes,  and  you  can  saddle 
him,  and  have  a  good  time  hunting  them.     Will  you  go?  " 

"  All  right,"  replied  Jack,  "  I  '11  be  there." 

Beachy  immediately  went  to  the  stable,  and,  ascending 
to  the  haymow,  placed  himself  m  a  position  where  he  could 
observe  the  actions  of  Jack  when  he  saddled  the  pony. 
The  boy  was  punctual.  Leading  the  pony  from  the  stall, 
he  took  down  the  saddle  and  placed  it  on  him. 

"  It 's  a  failure,"  reflected  Beachy,  as  the  boy  fastened 
the  girth,  and  seized  the  pommel  preparatory  to  mounting. 

Just  at  this  moment  Jack's  eye  caught  sight  of  the  stir- 
rup. He  paused,  and,  taking  it  in  his  hand,  surveyed  it 
narrowly.  An  expression  of  surprise  stole  over  his  face. 
Dropping  the  stirrup,  he  caught  the  crupper  and  examined 
it  more  carefully.  He  then  looked  at  other  parts  of  the 
saddle  in  detail.  At  length  he  mounted,  and,  while  leaving 
the  stable,  looked  back  with  astonished  interest  upon  the 
crupper.  The  cows  at  this  time  were  discovered  on  their 
way  home.  Jack  rode  around  and  drove  them  up,  and, 
dismounting,  said  to  Beachy,  who  met  him  at  the  stable 
door, 

"  This  is  Massa  ^Magruder's  saddle.  He  took  it  with 
him  when  he  went  to  Bannack.     How  cawQ  it  here?  " 


334  VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

"  How  do  you  know  it  is  his,  Jack?  " 

"  By  that  crupper.  There  's  where  I  mended  it  myself 
with  a  piece  of  buckskin.  I  know  it 's  the  same  old  saddle. 
I  've  ridden  on  it  a  hundred  times." 

"A  clew  at  last!"  said  Beachy.  "I'll  follow  it  up. 
Jack  cannot  be  mistaken." 

Calling  to  some  friends  who  were  passing,  he  told  them 
the  result  of  his  experiment.  The  old  saddle  was  produced, 
and  Jack  was  examined.  Alarmed  at  the  scepticism  of  his 
interrogators,  Jack  wavered  in  faith,  and  his  testimony 
only  confirmed  the  belief  that  Beachy  was  crazy. 

The  following  day  a  train  was  seen  descending  the 
mountain  by  the  Nez  Perce  trail.  A  tall  man,  seemingly 
the  leader,  who  wore  a  peculiar  hat,  like  Magruder's,  was 
pointed  out  as  the  missing  man.  Hundreds  of  eyes 
watched  the  slow  descent  of  the  mules  into  the  valley.  The 
wife  of  Magruder,  whose  thoughts^  and  feelings  had  been 
alternating  between  hope  and  fear  for  a  week  or  more, 
awaited  with  delighted  surprise  the  certain  approach  of 
her  husband.  Hill  Beachy  looked  on  with  doubtful  inter- 
est, hoping,  but  faithless.     Alas  !  it  was  not  Magrudcr. 

"  For  him  no  more  the  blazing  iR-artli  shall  burn. 
Or  busy  liousewife  ply  her  evening  care." 

When  the  train-master,  in  reply  to  their  eager  inquiries, 
expressed  his  own  surprise,  and  told  them  that  Magrudcr 
should  have  reached  home  ten  days  before,  the  people  for 
the  first  time  felt  that  he  might  have  fallen  a  victim  to 
robbers.  Still  they  doubted.  The  crime  was  too  great, 
involved  too  many  lives,  and  the  probability  that  he  had 
changed  routes  and  was  returning  by  the  way  of  Salt  Lake 
was  greater  than  that  he  and  his  large  train  had  been 
destroyed. 

Firm  in  his  belief,  Beachy,  like  n  sleuth-hound,  contin- 
ued to  follow  the  track  hading  to  discovery.  "  They  do 
not  know  the  desperate  character  of  those  villains,"  he  said,  , 


HILL  BEACH  Y  335 

as  he  turned  from  the  crowd  to  pursue  the  clew  furnished 
by  Jack.  His  wife,  who  until  this  time  had  feared  for  his 
safety  at  the  hands  of  the  town  ruffians,  now  for  the  first 
time  gave  him  encouragement. 

Falling  in  company  with  the  men  who  had  just  arrived 
from  Bannack,  he  plied  them  with  inquiries  concerning 
Magruder's  operations  there. 

"  Why,"  observed  one,  "  he  told  me  on  the  morning  he 
left  that  he  should  surprise  his  wife,  for  he  had  written  her 
the  day  before  that  he  would  not  leave  for  ten  days.  '  She 
will  tell  this  to  all  inquirers,'  said  he,  '  and  the  roughs 
of  Lewiston  will  be  thrown  off  their  guard.  I  shall  reach 
home  about  the  time  they  think  I  will  leave  here.'  " 

"  Would  you  know  any  of  the  stock  .f*  "  inquired  Beachy. 

"  Yes ;  there  was  one  large,  white-faced  sorrel  horse  be- 
longing to  some  of  the  party,  that  was  a  very  good  race- 
horse. I  saw  him  run  one  night,  when  some  of  the  boys  were 
at  our  camp.  I  think  I  should  know  him.  They  intended 
to  bring  him  here,  and  make  a  race-horse  of  him." 

The  only  horse  which  Beachy  had  found  in  possession 
of  the  rancheman  corresponded  with  this  description.  He 
placed  him  in  one  of  a  long  range  of  stalls  in  his  stable, 
in  each  of  which  was  a  horse,  and  requested  his  informant 
to  select  him,  if  possible,  from  the  number.  When  the  man 
came  to  the  sorrel,  he  said, 

"  If  this  horse  were  two  or  three  sizes  larger,  I  should 
think  he  might  be  the  one  I  saw;  but  he  is  too  small,  and 
I  know  nothing  of  the  others." 

Knowing  how  much  the  size  of  a  horse  is  seemingly  in- 
creased when  in  motion,  Beachy  saddled  the  sorrel,  and 
told  his  hostler  to  lead  him  to  the  end  of  the  street,  mount, 
and  run  him  at  his  best  speed  back  to  the  stable.  As  he 
dashed  down  to  the  spot  where  Beachy  and  the  man  were 
standing,  the  latter  involuntarily  raised  his  hands  and 
exclaimed, 


336  VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

"  My  God !  that  is  the  identical  animal." 

"  You  are  sure?  "  said  Beachy. 

"  I  would  swear  to  it,"  was  the  instant  reply. 

"  And  now,"  thought  Beachy,  "  I  have  a  white  man  on 
my  side.  The  evidence  is  sufficient  for  me.  To-morrow  I 
start  for  the  murderers." 

Armed  with  requisitions  upon  the  governors  of  all  the 
Pacific  States  and  Territories,  the  next  morning  Beachy, 
accompanied  by  the  indomitable  Tom  Farrell,  made  prep- 
arations for  his  departure.  When  all  was  ready,  his  wife, 
who  had  felt  more  keenly  than  he  had  the  ridicule,  sneers, 
indifference,  and  malignity  with  whicii  his  efforts  had  been 
regarded,  with  tearful  eyes  approached  him,  and,  taking 
him  by  the  hand,  in  a  tone  softened  by  the  grief  of  parting, 
said  to  him, 

"  Hill,  you  must  either  return  with  those  villains,  or 
look  up  a  new  wife." 

"  The  look  which  emphasized  these  words,"  says  Beachy, 
"  the  expression,  the  calm,  sweet  face  which  said  stronger 
than  words  that  failure  would  kill  her,  filled  me  with  new 
life.  They  were  worth  more  than  all  the  taunts  I  had  re- 
ceived, and  I  bade  her  adieu  with  the  determination  to 
succeed." 

While  Mr.  Beachy  was  speaking  thus  fondly  of  his 
wife,  whose  death  had  occurred  but  a  few  months  before 
he  narrated  to  me  these  incidents,  the  tears  rolled  down 
iiis  cheeks, —  and  he  added  in  a  voice  broken  with  emo- 
tion, "  I  then  felt  that  the  time  had  come  when  I  needed 
sometliing  more  than  human  help,  and  I  went  out  to  the 
barn  and  got  down  upon  my  knees  and  prayed  to  the  Old 
Father, —  and  that's  something  I  have  n't  been  much  in 
the  habit  of  doing  in  this  hard  country, —  and  I  prayed 
for  lialf  an  hour;  and  I  prayed  hard;  and  I  promised  that 
if  He  'd  only  help  me  this  time  in  catching  these  villains, 
I  M  never  ask  another  favor  of  Him  as  long  as  I  lived, 
and  I  mvir  /jr/zr." 


HILL  BEACHY  337 

Three  changes  were  made  in  the  transmission  of  the 
mail  over  tlic  route  between  Lewiston  and  Walla  Walla. 
The  log  dwellings  and  stables  at  the  several  stations  were 
the  only  evidences  of  settlement  for  the  entire  distance. 
Beachy  was  the  proprietor  of  the  stage  line.  His  sta- 
tion-keepers had  been  in  the  habit  of  transporting  way 
travellers  over  parts  of  the  road,  for  pay,  at  times  when 
the  horses  were  unemployed.  This  practice  had  been 
strictly  forbidden  b}'  Beachy.  But  when  he  and  Tom 
Farrell  drove  up  to  the  first  station,  such  was  his  anxiety 
to  overtake  the  fugitives,  tiiat  he  did  not  stop  to  repri- 
mand the  unfaithful  employee  who  had  just  harnessed 
the  stage  horses  to  a  light  wagon,  with  the  intention 
of  turning  a  dishonest  penny.  He  took  the  wagon  him- 
self, and  without  delay  drove  to  the  next  station,  arriving 
there  in  time  to  hitch  a  pair  of  horses  just  harnessed  by 
the  hostler  for  his  own  use,  to  his  wagon,  and  hurry  on  to 
another  station.  Here,  as  he  and  Tom  alighted,  a  light 
buggy  with  a  powerful  horse  came  alongside.  The  driver 
was  an  old  acquaintance.  He  was  going  to  Walla  Walla 
in  haste  for  a  physician.  Beachy  offered  to  do  his  errand 
if  he  would  allow  him  to  proceed  in  his  buggy.  The  gen- 
tleman assented.  The  horse's  flanks  were  white  with  foam 
when,  at  dark,  Beachy  and  Tom  Farrell  rode  into  Walla 
Walla. 

Before  entering  the  town,  Beachy  concealed  his  face  in 
a  muffler  to  avoid  recognition.  Half-way  up  the  street  he 
observed  a  man,  of  whom  he  expected  to  obtain  informa- 
tion, engaged  with  another  in  conversation.  Jumping 
from  the  wagon  he  approached  him  cautiously,  and,  by  a 
significant  grip,  drew  him  aside  and  made  known  his  busi- 
ness. 

"  They  left  four  days  ago  for  Portland,"  said  the  man, 
"  with  the  avowed  intention  of  taking  the  first  boat  to 
San  Francisco.  They  were  here  two  days,  lost  consider- 
able at  faro,  but  took  plenty  of  gold  dust  with  them." 


338   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

*'  Did  they  explain  how  they  obtained  their  money?  " 

*'  Yes.  Howard  said  that  they,  in  company  with  five 
others,  had  purchased  a  water  ditch  in  Boise  Basin,  and 
had  been  renting  the  water  to  the  miners  at  large  rates. 
The  miners  became  dissatisfied  with  their  prices,  and  a 
fight  ensued.  Men  were  killed  on  both  sides,  and  they 
were  the  only  members  of  the  ditch  company  that  escaped. 
They  were  now  on  their  way  out  of  the  country,  to  escape 
arrest.     They  feared  the  authorities  were  pursuing  them. 

While  engaged  in  this  conversation,  Captain  Ruckles, 
the  agent  of  the  Columbia  River  Steamboat  Company, 
happened  to  pass.  Beachy  hailed  him,  and  told  his  story. 
Ruckles  gave  him  authority  to  use  a  Whitehall  boat  in 
descending  the  river  from  Wallula,  and  an  order  upon  the 
captain  of  the  downward  bound  steamer  from  Umatilla, 
to  consult  his  convenience  on  the  trip  to  Portland. 

The  evening  was  far  advanced  when  Beachy  and  Farrell 
started  on  a  midnight  drive  of  thirty  miles  to  Wallula. 
Day  was  breaking  when  they  drove  up  to  the  landing. 
The  river,  at  all  times  boisterous,  had  been  swollen  by  the 
flood  into  a  torrent.  Rousing  a  wharfinger,  they  were  in- 
formed that  all  navigation  was  suspended  until  the  waters 
should  abate,  that  no  steamboats  had  been  there  for  sev- 
eral days,  and  to  attempt  the  passage  of  Umatilla  Rapids 
in  a  Whitehall  boat  would  be  madness. 

Fortunately,  the  next  man  Beachy  met  was  Captain 
Ankeny,  an  old  river  pilot,  who  knew  every  crook  and 
rock  in  the  channel, 

"  It  's   a  dangerous   business,"  said   the   captain,   after 
listening  to  his  story,  "  but  I  think  we  can  make  it  in  a 
Whitehall  boat.     At   nil  events,  if  it  's  murderers  you  'r€ 
after,   it's  worth   tlu-   risk.     I'll   take  you   down   if  any-"" 
body  can." 

At  daylight  the  three  men,  with  the  pilot  at  the  helm, 
pushed  out  into  the  strtam,  every  spectator  on  shore  pre- 


HILL  BP:ACHY  339 

dieting  disaster.  It  was,  indeed,  u  lively  passage,  and  not 
a  few  hairbreadth  escapes  were  attributable  to  the  skill  of 
the  man  who  knew  the  channel.  The  boat  dashed  through 
the  rapids,  and  rounded  to  at  Umatilla,  twenty-two  miles 
below,  two  hours  after  it  left  Wallula. 

Ueachy  found  a  willing  coadjutor  in  the  captain  of  the 
steamboat  at  Umatilla,  and,  to  expedite  the  departure  of 
the  boat,  employed  eighteen  men  to  assist  in  discharging 
the  cargo.  When  the  boat  had  blown  her  last  whistle  and 
rung  her  last  bell,  two  large  wagons  laden  with  emigrants, 
who  had  just  arrived  after  a  tedious  journey  across  the 
plains,  thundered  down  to  the  wharf  to  be  taken  aboard. 

"  Too  late,"  shouted  the  captain.  "  The  boat  cannot  be 
delayed.     Cast  off." 

The  spokesman  for  the  emigrants  pleaded  hard  for  a 
passage.     Beachy  relented. 

"  Take  them  on  board  for  luck,"  said  he  to  the  captain. 

No  other  cause  for  detention  occurring,  the  boat  swung 
off,  and  proceeded  down  the  river,  arriving  at  Celilo, 
eighty-five  miles  below,  late  in  the  evening.  From  that 
point  navigation  is  impeded  by  rapids  for  sixteen  miles, 
which  distance  is  travelled  by  railroad.  The  cars  would 
not  leave  until  the  next  morning, —  a  delay  which  might 
afford  the  fugitives  time  for  escape.  In  this  exigency 
Beachy  applied  to  the  emigrants,  and  by  pledging  the 
boat  as  security  for  the  return  of  their  horses,  and  paying 
a  round  sum,  hired  three  of  them  to  convey  Captain  An- 
keny,  Farrell,  and  himself  to  the  Dalles.  It  was  after  one 
o'clock  in  the  morning  when  they  entered  Dalles  City. 
Ankeny  and  Farrell  rode  down  to  the  hotel  to  reconnoitre, 
and  report  to  Beachy,  who  awaited  their  return  in  the  out- 
skirts. It  was  a  bright,  starlight  night.  A  man,  whose 
form  Beachy  recognized,  passed  hurriedly  by  the  spot 
where  he  stood.  Hailing  him,  he  unfolded  the  object  of  his 
mission,    and    learned    that    three    of    the    party    he    was 


340  VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

pursuing  had  left  tlic  Dalles  on  a  steamboat  for  Portland 
two  days  before.  The  other,  he  was  afterwards  informed, 
had  gone  since. 

In  company  with  Tom  Farrell,  he  took  passage  on  the 
next  steamer  for  Portland,  arriving  there  twenty-four 
hours  after  the  fugitives  had  left  for  San  Francisco.  Far- 
rell hurried  on  to  Astoria,  the  only  port  where  the  steamer 
stopped  on  its  passage  to  the  ocean,  to  ascertain  if  they 
had  landed  there,  while  Beachy  pub  in  execution  a  little 
scheme  by  which  he  hoped  to  obtain  full  information  con- 
cerning their  future  movements. 

A  year  before  this  time,  Beachy  had  concealed  from  the 
pursuit  of  the  \'igilantes  at  Lewiston  a  young  man  accused 
of  stealing,  whom  he  had  known  in  boyhood.  During  his 
concealment,  with  nmch  other  information,  he  told  Beachy 
of  the  robbery  of  a  jewelry  establishment  at  Victoria,  in 
British  Columbia,  in  which  he  was  concerned  with  Howard, 
Lowry,  and  llomaine.  They  deposited  their  plunder  with 
an  accomplice  at  Portland.  This  man  still  resided  at  Port- 
land, and  had  probably  met  with  Howard  and  his  compan- 
ions during  their  stay.  If  so,  he  was  doubtless  possessed 
of  information  which  would  aid  in  their  detection. 

At  every  place  where  they  had  stopped  on  the  trip  to 
Portland,  the  guilty  men  had  told  the  same  story  about 
their  collision,  at,  and  flight  from,  Boise  Basin.  Acting 
upon  the  belief  that  they  had  repeated  it  to  their  old  con- 
federate at  Portland,  Beachy,  on  the  same  evening  of  his 
arrival,  wrapped  in  blanket  and  muffler,  sallied  forth  to  a 
remote  quarter  of  the  town,  where  he  resided.  No  one 
responded  to  his  rap  upon  the  door.  He  crossed  the  street 
to  a  clump  of  bushes  to  watch.  A  half-hour  passed,  and  a 
woman  entered  the  dwelling.  Recrossing,  he  repeated  the  W 
alarm.  The  woman  mot  him  at  the  door.  With  much 
simulated  nervousness,  and  mystery  of  manner  and  tone, 
he  inquired  for  the  man. 


HILL  BEACHY  341 

"  He  is  very  busy,  and  will  not  be  home  until  late,  if 
at  all,"  replied  the  woman. 

"  I  must  see  him  immediately,"  urged  Beachy,  with  in- 
creasing earnestness.  "  My  life  depends  upon  it.  Here, 
madam,"  he  continued,  thrusting  a  hundred  dollars  into 
her  hands,  "  secure  me  an  interview  as  soon  as  possible. 
He  is  the  only  person  here  who  can  aid  my  escape.  I  dare 
not  be  seen,  but  will  conceal  myself  in  the  clump  until 
he  comes." 

Beachy  says  he  never  was  satisfied  whether  it  was  gold 
or  pure  womanly  sympathy  for  his  apparent  distress 
which  obtained  for  him  a  speedy  meeting.  By  assuming 
the  character  of  a  partner  in  the  Boise  enterprise  who  had 
miraculously  escaped  arrest,  and  was  then  in  pursuit  of  his 
companions,  he  learned  that  the  men  he  was  pursuing  in- 
tended to  remain  in  San  Francisco  until  they  could  have 
their  dust,  amounting  to  seventeen  thousand  dollars, 
coined,  when  they  would  go  to  New  York  by  way  of  the 
Isthmus,  and  return  to  Virginia  City  in  the  spring.  To 
make  the  delusion  perfect,  Beachy,  at  the  close  of  the  in- 
terview, gave  his  informant  one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars, 
with  which  the  latter  purchased  for  him  a  horse,  which  he 
delivered  to  Beachy  at  a  late  hour  of  the  evening,  at  East 
Portland,  on  the  opposite  bank  of  the  Willamette  River. 
Bidding  him  good-bye,  Beachy  mounted  the  horse,  and 
was  soon  lost  to  view  in  the  pine  forest,  his  dupe  believ- 
ing that  he  had  enabled  him  to  escape  the  authorities  of 
Boise.  Two  hours  afterwards  the  horse  was  returned  to 
its  owner,  and  the  purchase  money  restored. 

How  to  reach  San  Francisco  in  time  to  arrest  the  fugi- 
tives before  their  departure  for  New  York,  was  not  easy 
of  solution.  No  steamer  would  leave  Portland  for  ten 
days,  and  an  overland  journey  of  seven  hundred  miles, 
over  the  muddiest  roads  in  the  world,  was  the  only  alterna- 
tive.    The  nearest  telegraph  station  was  at  Yreka,  four 


342   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

hundred  miles  distant.  Wearied  with  the  unremitting 
travel  and  excitement  of  tlie  pievious  week,  Beachy  hired 
a  buggy  and  left  Portland  at  midnigiit,  intending  to  over- 
take the  coach  which  liad  left  the  morning  before  his 
arrival.  This  lie  accomplished  at  Salem,  late  in  the  after- 
noon of  the  next  day.  When  the  coach  reached  the  moun- 
tains, its  progress  was  too  slow  for  his  impatience,  and  he 
forsook  it,  and,  mounting  a  horse  placed  at  his  disposal 
by  an  old  friend,  rode  on,  hoping  to  come  up  with  the  ad- 
vance coach.  He  fell  asleep  while  riding,  and,  on  awaken- 
ing, found  himself  seated  upon  the  horse  in  front  of  its 
owner's  stable,  at  a  village  twcnt}'  miles  distant  from  the 
one  he  had  left.  Here  he  hired  a  buggy  and  overtook  the 
coach  the  next  morning. 

Two  days  afterwards  he  arrived  at  Yreka.  He  imme- 
diately sent  a  telegram  to  the  chief  of  the  San  Francisco 
police,  and  was  overjoyed  upon  his  arrival  at  Shasta, 
twenty-four  hours  afterwards,  to  receive  a  reply  that  the 
men  he  was  pursuing  were  in  prison,  awaiting  his  arrival. 
At  midnight  of  the  second  day  following,  he  was  admitted 
to  the  cell  where  the  prisoners  were  confined. 

They  had  been  arrested  by  strategem  two  days  before. 
As  Howard  and  Lowry  were  escaped  convicts  from  the 
California  penitentiary,  they  naturally  supposed  that  they 
had  been  arrested  upon  recognition,  to  be  returned  for 
their  unexpired  terms.  This  they  were  planning  to  escape 
by  bribing  the  officers,  whom  they  had  told  of  their  deposit 
in  the  mint,  denj'ing  at  the  same  time  that  Page  had  any 
interest  in  it. 

When,  therefore,  the  chief  of  police  en+ered  the  cell,  and 
turned  on  the  gas,  disclosing  the  presence  of  Hill  Beachy, 
had  Magruder  himsilf  ajipoared,  they  would  not  have 
been  more  astonished.  With  dismay  picturetl  upon  his 
countenance,  Howard  was  the  first  to  break  that  ominous 
silence  by  a  question  intended  either  to  confirm  their  worst 
fears,  or  re-animate  their  hopes  of  escape. 


HILL  BEACHY  343 

"  Well,  old  man,"  said  he,  gazing  fixedly  upon  Beachy, 
"what  brought  you  down  here?" 

"  You  did,"  was  the  instant  reply. 

*'  What  for,  pray?  "  persisted  Howard,  assuming  an  in- 
different air. 

"'  The  murder  of  Lloyd  Magruder  and  Charley  Allen." 

The  eyes  of  the  questioner  dropped.  He  drew  a  long 
breath.     A  deadly  pallor  stole  over  his  face. 

"  That 's  a  rich  note,"  said  Lowry,  affecting  to  laugh. 
"  We  left  Magruder  at  Bannack,  well  and  hearty." 

"  We  shall  see.  Good-night,  boys,"  said  Beachy,  and 
he  offered  each  his  hand. 

Page  clasped  his  hand  heartily,  and,  by  several  scratches 
upon  the  palm,  signified  that  he  had  something  which  he 
wished  to  communicate. 

Four  weeks  were  spent  in  San  Francisco,  in  the  effort  to 
obtain  the  custody  of  the  prisoners.  As  fast  as  one  court 
would  decide  to  surrender  them,  another  would  grant  a 
writ  of  habeas  corpus  for  a  new  examination.  At  length 
the  Supreme  Court  of  the  State  decided  in  favor  of  their 
surrender  to  the  authorities  of  Idaho  for  trial.  In  antici- 
pation of  a  series  of  similar  legal  delays  in  Oregon, 
Beachy,  before  leaving,  obtained  from  General  Wright,  the 
commander  of  the  Department  of  the  Pacific,  an  order 
upon  the  military  post  of  the  Columbia,  directing  an  escort 
to  meet  the  prisoners  at  the  mouth  of  the  river,  and  de- 
liver them  with  all  possible  despatch  to  the  civil  authori- 
ties at  Lewiston. 

On  the  voyage  from  San  Francisco  to  the  mouth  of  the 
Columbia,  the  prisoners  occupied  the  state-room  adjoining 
Beachy's.  An  orifice  was  made  in  the  base  of  the  parti- 
tion between  the  apartments,  under  the  berth  occupied  by 
Howard  and  Lowry.  After  they  had  retired,  Beachy 
would  apply  his  ear  to  it,  to  glean,  if  possible,  from  their 
conversation,  any  circumstances  confirming  their  guilt. 
On  one  occasion  he  heard  Lowry  observe  that  "  Magruder 


3U  VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

had  a  good  many  friends,"  and  Howard  reply  that  "  all 
five  of  them  had  friends  enough."  This  satisfied  him  that 
others  beside  Magruder  had  been  killed,  and  that  he  was 
on  the  right  track.  At  the  mouth  of  the  Columbia,  a  small 
steamer  with  a  military  escort  received  the  prisoners. 
They  were  conveyed  immediately  to  Lewiston.  A  large 
assemblage  had  gathered  upon  the  wharf,  intending  to  con- 
duct the  prisoners  from  the  boat  to  the  scaffold.  Pro- 
tected by  the  military,  Beachy  succeeded  in  removing  them 
to  his  hotel,  amid  loud  cries  of  "  Hang  'em,"  "  String  'em 
up,"  by  the  pursuing  crowd.  He  then  appeared  in  front 
of  the  building,  and  in  a  brief  address  informed  the  in- 
furiated people  that  one  of  the  conditions  on  which  he 
obtained  the  surrender  of  the  men  was  that  they  should 
have  a  fair  trial  at  law.  He  had  pledged  his  honor,  not 
only  to  the  prisoners,  but  to  the  authorities,  that  the}* 
should  only  be  hanged  after  conviction  by  a  jury.  This 
pledge  he  would  redeem  with  his  life  if  necessary.  He 
made  it,  believing  that  his  fellow-citizens  of  Ltwiston 
would  stand  by  him.  "  And  now,"  said  he,  "  as  many  of 
you  as  will  do  so,  will  please  cross  to  the  opposite  side  of 
the  street."     The  movement  was  unanimous. 

"  Be  gorra !  Mr.  Beachy,"  exclaimed  an  Irishman, 
after  he  had  passed  over,  "  you  're  the  only  mon  in  the 
whole  congregation  that  votes  against  yourself." 

The  prisoners  were  heavily  ironed  and  strongly  guarded 
in  an  upper  room  of  the  hotel.  No  legal  evidence  of  their 
guilt,  no  evidence  that  a  murder  had  been  committed,  had 
yet  been  obtained.  Page  was  reticent,  though  believed  by 
all  to  have  been  the  victim  of  circumstances.  A  week 
elapsed,  and  no  disclosures  were  made  upon  which  to  base 
a  hope  of  conviction.  Tired  of  waiting,  it  was  at  length 
arranged  with  the  district  attorney  that  Page  should  be 
permitted  to  testify  as  State's  evidence. 

Beachy  now  concerted,  with  several  others,  a  plan  for 
getting  at  the  truth.     In  a  vacant  room,  accessible  from 


HILL  BEACHY  345 

the  main  passage  of  the  building,  he  suspended  from  the 
ceiling  four  ropes  with  nooses,  and  under  each  placed  an 
empty  dry-goods  box.  Every  preparation  was  seemingly 
made  for  a  secret  and  summary  execution. 

In  a  room  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  hall  he  spread  a 
large  table,  with  paper,  pens,  and  ink,  and  obtained  from 
the  county  clerk  three  plethoric  legal  documents,  which 
were  put  in  the  hands  of  persons  seated  at  the  table.  A 
clerk  was  also  there,  who  had  seemingly  been  engaged  in 
writing  out  the  confessions  of  Howard,  Lowry,  and  Ro- 
maine,  which  were  represented  by  the  documents  already 
referred  to. 

When  these  preparations  were  completed,  two  guards 
entered  the  room  occupied  by  the  four  prisoners,  and  con- 
ducted Howard  downstairs  to  a  room  in  the  basement.  An 
hour  or  more  elapsed,  and  the  same  ceremony  was  ob- 
served with  Lowry,  and  after  another  hour  with  Romaine. 
The  solemnity  of  this  proceeding  was  intended  to  impress 
Page  with  the  belief  that  his  comrades  had  been  severally 
executed  by  the  Vigilantes.  When,  an  hour  later,  the 
guards  returned,  they  found  him  in  a  cold  perspiration, 
and  scarcel}'  able  to  stand. 

He  was  met  by  Beachy  at  the  door. 

*'  Page,"  said  he,  "  I  have  done  all  in  my  power  to  save 
3'ou,  because  I  believed  you  less  guilty  than  the  others,  but 
I  find  I  can  do  more.  Whether  you  live  or  die  now  re- 
mains with  yourself.  Your  old  friend.  Captain  Ankeny, 
has  worked  hard  for  you." 

As  he  said  this,  the  party  came  to  the  door  of  the  room 
where  the  ropes  were  suspended,  which  had  been  purposely 
opened.  The  hideous  preparations  glanced  upon  the  ter- 
ror-stricken vision  of  the  trembling  prisoner.  Beachy 
slammed  the  door  with  a  crash,  exclaiming,  with  well-simu- 
lated anger,  as  he  turned  to  the  attendants, 

"  I  told  you  to  keep  that  door  closed,"  and  resumed 
his  conversation  with  Page. 


34G   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

"  There  is,"  said  lie,  "  a  bare  chance  remaining  for  you. 
Your  coinnides  arc  still  living.  Tlicj  have  each  made  a 
confession,  and  now  the  opportunity  is  afforded  you.  If 
you  make  a  clean  breast  of  it,  and  tell  the  truth,  it  is  pos- 
sible you  may  escape  by  turning  State's  evidence;  but  if 
not,  there  is  no  alternative  but  to  hang  you  all.  One  thing 
let  me  say :  if  you  conclude  to  accept  this  possible  chance 
for   life,  tell   the  truth." 

"  I  certainly  will  do  so,  Mr.  Beachy,"  said  the  terrified 
man. 

He  was  then  seated  in  front  of  the  clerk  at  the  table. 
Ikachy  sat  on  one  side,  holding  one  of  the  documents,  as 
if  to  compare  his  testimony  with  it,  and  Captain  Ankeny 
and  another  person,  each  with  a  similar  document,  sat 
opposite.  The  building  was  of  logs.  A  gathering  outside 
could  be  heard  through  the  chinks,  discussing  the  pro- 
priety of  admitting  Page  to  testify. 

"  He  is  as  guilty  as  the  others,  and  should  suffer  the 
same  fate,"  said  one. 

"  It  's  nonsense  to  try  them,"  said  another.  "  The 
Vigilantes  should  hang  them  all  immediately." 

"  It  '11  do  no  harm  to  hear  what  he  has  to  say,"  said  a 
third,  "  but  he  '11  probably  lie." 

"  Not  if  he  regards  his  life.  He  'U  be  easily  detected 
in  that,  and  then  he  '11  be  hung  without  mercy,"  remarked 
another. 

These  surroundings,  terrible  to  a  guilty  conscience,  were 
not  alleviated  by  the  frequent  interruptions  of  Beachy 
and  Ankeny,  who,  to  all  outward  seeming,  were  closely 
comparing  the  statements  of  Page  with  those  of  his  com- 
panions. The  confession  thus  obtained  bore  internal  evi- 
dence of  truthfulness;  and,  when  it  was  finished,  Page 
entreated  Beachy  not  to  return  him  to  the  room  with 
the  other  prisoners. 

"  They   will   kill   me   if  they  suspect  mc  of  betraying 


i 


HILL  BEACHY  347 

them,"  said  he,  "  and  the  fact  that  we  have  all  been  re- 
quested to  confess  will  make  tlicni  suspicious." 

Page  was  heavily  ironed,  and  confined  in  a  separate  room 
on  the  side  of  the  hall  opposite  the  room  occupied  by  the 
other  prisoners,  who,  in  the  seeming  severity  with  which 
he  was  treated,  received  the  impression  that  he  was  singled 
out  as  the  real  criminal.  Acting  under  Beachy's  instruc- 
tions. Page  occasionally  stood  in  the  doorway  of  his  apart- 
ment, so  that  the  other  prisoners  could  see  him,  and  they 
improved  these  opportunities  by  making  significant  signs 
to  him  to  be  silent.  Howard  would  break  out  into  a  song, 
into  which  he  would  improvise  words  of  caution  for  Page 
to  observe.  At  length,  at  their  own  request,  the  prisoners 
were  occasionally"  permitted  to  perambulate  the  hall,  and 
at  those  times  opportunity  was  given  to  converse  with 
Page.  They  finally  would  enter  his  room,  and  in  a  con- 
versation with  him,  while,  as  he  supposed,  he  was  enjoying 
one  of  these  stolen  interviews,  Beachy  heard  Lowry  tell 
Page  that  the  body  of  Brother  Jonathan  —  meaning  Ma- 
gruder  —  could  never  be  found,  whether  the  others  were 
or  not.  It  was  a  great  satisfaction  to  Beachy  to  learn, 
from  this  and  several  other  little  incidents  that  occurred 
while  the  murderers  were  in  custody,  that  he  had  made  no 
mistake  in  arresting  them. 

Twenty-four  hours  before  the  trial,  the  prisoners,  as 
required  by  the  laws  of  Idaho,  were  served  with  a  copy  of 
the  indictment  found  against  them,  with  a  list  of  witnesses, 
in  which  it  appeared  that  the  charge  was  substantiated  by 
the  testimony  of  Page.  This  was  the  first  intimation  they 
had  that  he  was  to  be  received  as  State's  evidence.  Lowry 
read  enough  of  the  indictment  to  learn  this  fact.  Handing 
it  to  Beachy,  he  exclaimed  with  an  oath, 

"  I  have  read  far  enough.  If  old  Page  is  to  testify,  the 
jig  is  up.     I  don't  wish  to  know  any  more." 

More  than  a  hundred  persons  summoned  as  jurors  were 


348   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

rejected  in  selecting  an  impartial  jury.  Good  counsel 
was  provided  for  the  prisoners ;  and  after  a  careful  and 
protracted  triah,  in  which  no  legal  effort  was  spared  both 
to  convict  and  to  defend,  the  prisoners  were  found  guilty, 
and  sentenced  to  be  hanged  on  the  fourth  day  of  March, 
18G4,  six  weeks  after  the  trial. 

During  this  interval,  they  were  confined  in  their  old 
quarters,  where  they  received  every  attention  from  Mr. 
Beachy  and  his  wife.  As  the  day  of  expiation  drew  nigh, 
both  Lowry  and  Romaine  confessed  to  their  participation 
in  the  murder,  and  the  truth  of  Page's  testimony;  but 
Howard  denied  it  to  the  last. 

The  scaffold  was  erected  in  a  basin  encircled  by  abrupt 
hillsides,  from  which  ten  thousand  people,  including  al- 
most the  entire  Nez  Perce  tribe  of  Indians,  witnessed  the 
execution. 

A  few  weeks  afterwards,  Beachy  and  a  few  friends,  un- 
der the  guidance  of  Page,  visited  the  scene  of  the  murder, 
and  returned  with  the  remains  of  the  unfortunate  victims, 
which  were  decently  buried  in  the  cemetery  at  I^ewiston. 

Page  remained  in  the  employ  of  Beachy  several  months 
—  an  object  of  general  reproach  and  execration.  A  3'ear 
had  little  more  than  elapsed  when  he  became  involved  in  a 
drunken  brawl,  and  was  killed  by  his  adversary. 

Mr.  Beachy,  after  repeated  rebuffs,  succeeded  in  getting 
the  seventeen  thousand  dollars,  which  the  murderers  had 
deposited  in  the  mint  at  San  Francisco.  This  was  given 
to  the  widow  and  heirs  of  Magruder.  After  a  delay  of 
some  years,  the  Legislature  of  Idaho  appropriated  an 
amount  sufficient  to  defray  the  expense  he  had  incurred 
in  the  capture  and  prosecution  of  the  murderers;  and  he 
subsequently  removed  to  San  Francisco,  where  he  died  in 
the  year  1875,  esteemed  by  all  who  knew  him,  not  less  for 
his  generosity  of  heart,  than  tlu>  other  manly  and  moIjIc 
qualities  of  his  clmracter. 


i 


CHAPTER   XXXIV 

HOWIE  AND  FETHERSTUN 

SEVERAL  days  after  the  execution  of  "Red"  and 
Brown,  when  their  bodies  were  taken  down  for  burial, 
there  was  found,  fastened  to  each,  a  monograph  which  has 
few  parallels  for  brevity  in  the  annals  of  necrology.  "  Red ! 
Road  Agent  and  ^Messenger !  "  "  Brown  !  Corresponding 
Secretary !  "  Laconic,  but  explicit,  they  fitly  epitomized 
the  history,  both  in  life  and  death,  of  these  ill-fated  men. 

The  little  company  of  Vigilantes  arrived  in  Nevada 
early  the  morning  after  the  execution.  The  Committee 
assembled  immediately  to  consider  what  action  should  be 
pursued  with  reference  to  the  disclosures  made  by  "  Red,*' 
but,  as  the  results  of  their  recommendations  will  hereafter 
appear,  no  further  allusion  to  the  subject  is  necessary  at 
this  time. 

The  fluttering  among  the  robbers,  when  it  became  known 
that  two  men  of  their  number  had  fallen,  was  very  per- 
ceptible both  at  Bannack  and  Virginia  City.  Many  of 
them  fled  at  once;  others,  who  would  have  accompanied 
them,  had  they  heard  of  the  disclosures  made  by  "  Red," 
believed  themselves  secure,  until  some  testimony  should 
appear  against  them.  Not  anticipating  treachery  from 
any  of  their  comrades,  they  regarded  such  treachery  as 
wholly  unattainable. 

Dutch  John  was  not  of  this  number.  Alarm  grew  upon 
him  day  by  day,  after  the  execution  of  Ives.  He  knew 
that,  with  the  unhealed  bullet  wound  in  his  shoulder,  his 
identity   with   the    robbers   who  attacked   Moody's   train 

349 


350  VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

would  be  clearly  established.  He  went  to  Plummcr  with 
his  fears.  Plummcr  advised  him  to  leave  the  Territory. 
In  pursuance  of  this  advice,  he  shouldered  his  saddle  and 
left  Bannack  in  the  direction  of  Horse  Prairie.  A  person 
who  saw  him  leave,  suspecting  that  he  had  designs  upon  a 
fine  gray  horse,  wrote  to  the  owners  of  the  animal,  warn- 
ing them  of  his  approach.  They  lay  in  watch  for  the 
thief,  and  discovered  him  sitting  in  the  underbrush.  They 
inunediately  hedged  him  in,  and  captured  him.  After  a 
severe  lecture  and  taking  his  saddle,  they  gave  him  an  old 
mule  and  blanket,  and  bade  him  depart.  Accompanied  by 
a  Bannack  Indian,  he  rode  slowly  down  the  road  leading 
to  Salt  Lake  City. 

A  few  days  after  the  execution  of  Ives,  John  X.  Bcid- 
ler,  who  had  officiated  on  that  occasion,  went  down  the 
Salt  Lake  road  to  meet  a  train  which  was  expected  from 
Denver.  Meeting  it  at  Snake  River,  he  returned  with  it 
to  Beaverhead  valley,  where  he  was  told  of  the  attack,  by 
Dutch  John  and  Marshland,  on  Moody's  train,  and  fur- 
nished with  a  description  of  the  robbers.  His  informant, 
believing  that  Moody's  shot  would  prove  fatal,  told  him 
that  he  would  know  the  body  of  the  robber  by  his  leg- 
gings. 

"  I  need  a  pair  of  leggings,"  replied  X.,  "  and,  if  I  find 
the  man  dead,  will  confiscate  them."  Beldler  turned  back, 
and  met  Dutch  John  and  the  Indian  in  Beaver  Canon,  at 
the  toll-gate.  Failing  to  recogni/.e  him  as  the  robber,  he 
offered  him  a  drink  from  a  bottle  of  schnapps.  John's 
hands  were  so  severely  frozen  that  he  could  not  grasp  the 
bottle.  Beldler  soaked  them  in  water,  to  take  the  frost 
out.     While  thus  employed,  John  asked, 

"  Is  it  true  that  Giorge  Ives  has  been  hanged?  " 

"Yes,"  replied  Beldler;  "he's  dead  and  buried." 

"  Who  did  it?  "  Inquired  John. 

"Oil,  tlir  Virginia  and   Xrvada  people." 


HOWIE  AND  FETHERSTUN      351 

"Did  they  find  out  anything?" 

"  They  found  out  sonic  things,"  said  Bcidler,  "  and  are 
now  after  the  robbers  of  Moody's  train.  One  of  them, 
Dutch  John,  was  shot,  and  I  expect  to  find  him  dead  upon 
the  trail.  If  I  do,  I  shall  confiscate  his  leggings,  for  I  need 
a  pair  very  much." 

"  Would  you  take  his  leggings  if  you  found  him.?  "  in- 
quired Dutch  John. 

"  Of  course  I  would,  if  he  was  dead,"  said  Beidler. 

They  continued  to  chat  till  late  in  the  evening,  passing 
the  night  together,  Beidler  never  suspecting  him  to  be  the 
robber  he  was  in  pursuit  of.  The  next  morning  Beidler 
dressed  John's  frozen  hands,  and  they  separated. 

The  next  day,  while  making  his  way  through  Beaver 
Canon,  John  was  seen  and  recognized  by  Captain  Wall  and 
Ben  Peabody,  who  were  encamped  there  by  stress  of 
weather,  with  a  pack  train,  en  route  to  Salt  Lake.  They 
saw  him  and  the  Indian  take  shelter  in  a  vacant  cabin  at 
no  great  distance  bej^ond  their  camp,  and  went  immedi- 
ately with  the  information  to  John  Fetherstun,  who  was 
also  near  at  hand  with  eight  teams  and  drivers,  awaiting 
an  abatement  of  the  temperature.  Fetherstun  recom- 
mended that  John  should  be  hanged  to  one  of  the  logs 
projecting  from  the  end  of  the  cabin.  Wall  and  Peabody 
wanted  him  to  be  returned  to  Bannack.  Being  unable  to 
agree,  Wall  and  Peabody  proceeded  down  the  road  to  the 
camp  of  Neil  Howie,  who  was  on  his  return  from  Salt 
Lake  City,  in  charge  of  three  wagons  laden  with  groceries 
and  flour.  If  they  had  searched  the  world  over,  they  could 
have  found  no  fitter  man  for  their  purpose.  Brave  as  a 
lion,  and  as  efficient  as  brave,  Neil  Howie  inherited  from 
nature  a  royal  hatred  of  crime  and  criminals  in  every  form. 
He  laid  his  plans  at  once  for  the  capture  and  return  of 
John  to  Bannack.  The  men  belonging  to  his  train  prom- 
ised him  ready  assistance.     In  a  short  time  John  and  the 


352   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  W.VYS 

Indian  appcftrcd  in  the  distance,  and  the  courage  of  Neil's 
friends,  which  began  at  that  moincnt  to  weaken,  "  grew 
small  by  degrees,  and  beautifully  less,"  as  the  stalwart 
desperado  approached,  until,  to  use  an  expression  much  in 
vogue  in  those  days,  they  concluded  that  as  they  "  had 
lost  no  murderers,"  the  reason  given  for  the  arrest  of  this 
one  were  not  sufficiently  urgent  to  command  their  assistance 
in  such  a  formidable  undertaking.  In  plain  words,  they 
backed  out  of  their  promise.  Neil,  whose  contempt  for  a 
coward  was  only  equalled  by  his  abhorrence  of  a  murderer, 
still  determined  upon  the  capture.  It  would  be  a  libel  upon 
the  honest  Scotch  inflexibility  which  had  come  down  to  him 
through  his  Covenanting  progenitors  to  recede  from  a 
resolution  which  his  conscience  so  fully  approved.  Dutcii 
John  rode  up  and  asked  for  some  tobacco. 

"  We  have  none  to  spare,"  said  the  train  master.  "  Go 
to  the  big  train  below.     They  will  supply  you." 

He  cast  a  suspicious,  uneasy  glance  at  the  men,  and, 
with  the  Indian  by  his  side,  rode  on.  Xeil  looked  after 
him  until  nearly  lost  to  sight,  then  mounted  his  pony  and 
rode  rapidly  in  pursuit,  with  the  hope  of  obtaining  aid 
from  the  big  train,  which  belonged  to  James  Vivion.  He 
soon  overtook  the  fugitive,  whom  he  found  with  rifle  in 
hand,  ready  to  defend  his  liberty.  The  Indian,  too,  ap- 
prised of  Neil's  approach,  passed  his  hands  over  his  quiver, 
seemingly  to  select  an  arrow  for  instant  use.  Carelessly 
remarking,  as  he  passed,  that  he  had  to  borrow  a  shoeing 
hammer  to  prepare  the  stock  for  crossing  the  divide,  Neil 
rode  on  under  the  muzzle  of  John's  rifle,  without  drawing 
his  reins  until  he  arrived  at  the  train.  The  remark  dis- 
armed John's  suspicions,  or  he  would  doubtless  have  fired 
upon  him. 

Neil  related  the  particulars  of  John's  career.  "  It  is  ;i 
burning  shame  —  a  reproach  to  the  Territory,  and  will 
be  an  eternal   reproach  to  iis   if  wi-  permit  so  great  a  vil- 


XEIT-   HOWIE 

Captor  of  "  Dutch  John 


HOWIE  AND  FETHERSTUN      353 

lain  to  escape.  Just  reflect, —  he  is  a  horse-thief  and  a 
murderer,  stained  with  blood,  and  covered  with  crimes. 
Let  us  arrest  him  at  once." 

All  to  no  purpose.  The  men,  one  and  all,  declined  hav- 
ing anything  to  do  with  it.  Meantime  John  came  up  and 
asked  for  some  tobacco. 

"  Have  30U  any  money?  "  inquired  one  of  the  men. 

"  Not  a  cent,"  was  the  reply. 

"  Then,"  said  his  interrogator,  "  we  have  no  tobacco  for 
you." 

"  Oh !  let  him  have  what  he  wants,"  interposed  Neil.  "  I 
will  pay  for  it." 

John's  face  wore  a  grateful  expression.  He  thanked 
Neil,  and  with  the  Indian  took  his  departure.  Neil  made 
another  hurried  appeal,  not  to  let  the  murderer  and  road 
agent  escape,  but  the  men  refused  to  help. 

"  Then,"  said  he,  "  I  will  arrest  him  alone,"  and  he 
strode  rapidly  after  John,  shouting, 

"  Hallo,  captain !  hold  on  a  minute." 

John  wheeled  his  mule  half  round,  and  sat  awaiting  the 
approach  of  Neil.  To  the  stature  and  strength  of  a 
giant,  John  added  a  nature  hardened  by  crime,  and  the 
ferocious  courage  of  a  tiger.  His  face,  browned  by  ex- 
posure, reflected  the  dark  passions  of  his  heart,  and  was 
lighted  up  by  a  pair  of  eyes  full  of  malignity.  Nature 
had  covered  him  with  signs  and  marks  indicative  of  his 
character.  Neil,  on  the  other  hand,  was  rather  under  the 
medium  size,  with  nothing  in  his  general  make-up  that  de- 
noted uncommon  strength  or  activity,  though,  when 
aroused,  no  mountain  cat  was  more  active  in  his  move- 
ments, and  strength  seemed  always  to  come  to  him  equal 
to  any  emergency.  His  clear  gray  eye,  calm  and  gentle 
in  repose,  became  very  powerful  and  commanding  under 
excitement. 

With  his  gaze  fixed  steadily  upon  the  ruffian,  he  marched 


354   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

rapidly  towards  him.  John  slewed  his  rifle  around,  grasp- 
ing the  barrel  with  his  left,  and  the  small  of  the  stock  with 
his  right  hand,  as  if  preparing  for  a  deadly  aim.  Neil's 
hand  fell  with  an  admonitory  ring  upon  the  trusty  re- 
volver in  his  belt,  which  had  never  failed  him.  For  an 
instant  only,  it  seemed  that  either  the  rifle  or  pistol  would 
decide  the  adventure;  but  the  ruffian  quailed  before  the 
determined  gaze  of  Howie,  who  passed  unharmed  beyond 
the  muzzle  of  his  rifle,  and  stood  with  his  hand  upon  the 
flank  of  the  mule.  Looking  Joim  steadily  in  the  eye,  in 
a  quiet  but  authoritative  tone,  Neil  said  to  him, 

"  Give  ine  your  gun  and  get  off"  your  mule." 

With  blanched  face  and  trembling  hands,  John  com- 
plied, at  the  same  time  expressing  his  willingness  to  sub- 
mit to  the  capture. 

"  You  have  nothing  to  fear  from  me,"  said  he  as  he 
alighted,  and  handed  the  reins  to  Howie.  It  is  said  that 
occasions  will  always  find  men  suited  to  meet  them.  This 
occasion  found,  among  a  crowd  of  twenty  or  more  experi- 
enced mountaineers,  only  Neil  Howie  as  the  man  endowed 
with  moral  and  physical  courage  to  grapple  with  it. 

The  prisoner  accompanied  his  captor  to  the  camp-fire. 
The  weather  was  intensely  cold.  Many  of  the  oxen  be- 
longing to  the  trains  had  died  from  exposure,  and  others 
wore  so  severely  frozen  that  they  lost  their  hoofs  and  tails 
the  succeeding  spring.  As  soon  as  Howie  and  his  prisoner 
were  thoroughly  warmed,  Neil  said  to  him, 

"  John,  I  have  arrested  you  for  the  part  you  took  in 
the  robbery  of  Moody's  train  last  month.  Every  man  in 
that  company  charges  you  with  it." 

"  It  's  a  lie,"  said  John.     "I  had  no  hand  in  it  at  all." 

"  That  question  can  be  easily  decided,"  replied  Neil, 
*'  for  the  man  they  supposed  to  be  you  was  wounded  by  a 
shot  in  tin-  shoulder.  If  you  are  not  the  person,  there 
will   be   no   bullet    mark   tlurc.      I   don't    wish   to    make   a 


HOWIE  AND  FETHERSTUN      355 

mistake,  and  your  denial  of  the  charge  makes  it  necessary 
that  I  should  examine.     Just  remove  your  shirt." 

John  reluctantly  complied,  all  the  while  protesting  his 
innocence.  When,  however,  the  shoulder  was  bared,  the 
scarcely  healed  perforation  settled  all  doubts  in  Howie's 
mind  concerning  the  personal  identity  of  his  prisoner. 

"  How  is  it,"  said  he,  "  if  you  are  not  the  man,  that 
you  have  this  scar?  " 

"  I  got  it  accidentally  while  asleep  by  my  camp-fire.  It 
was  cold,  and  I  lay  near  the  fire.  My  clothes  caught  fire, 
and  the  cap  ignited,  discharging  my  pistol,  which  was 
strapped  to  my  side." 

"  Let  me  prove  to  you  that  this  story  cannot  be  true," 
said  Neil. 

Placing  a  cap  upon  a  stick,  he  held  it  in  the  hottest  blaze 
of  the  camp-fire.    Minutes  elapsed  before  it  exploded. 

"  Do  you  not  see,"  he  continued,  "  that  long  before  the 
cap  on  your  pistol  would  have  exploded,  you  would  have 
been  burned  to  death?  But  there  is  still  another  reason. 
If  it  had  exploded,  as  you  say,  the  ball  could  never  have 
wounded  your  shoulder.  You  must  go  with  me  to  Ban- 
nack.  If  you  can  prove  your  innocence  there,  as  I  hope 
you  may,  it  will  all  be  well  with  you." 

Leaving  his  prisoner  in  charge  of  the  train  company, 
Neil  started  in  pursuit  of  a  person  to  aid  in  conveying  him 
to  Bannack.  Unsuccessful  in  this,  he  left  with  John  in 
company,  and  proceeded  to  Dry  Creek,  where  was  a  camp 
of  fifty  or  sixty  teamsters.  Such  was  their  fear  of  the 
roughs  that  they  one  and  all  refused  to  assist  him.  While 
deliberating  what  next  to  do,  a  man  by  the  name  of  Irvine 
suggested  to  him  that  if  Fetherstun  could  be  induced  to 
aid,  he  would  be  a  suitable  man  for  the  purpose.  Neil  went 
immediately  to  Fetherstun's  camp,  fully  determined,  if 
again  rebuffed,  to  attempt  the  journey  with  his  prisoner 
alone.     Fetherstun  volunteered  without  hesitation,  and  for 


356  VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

the  two  following  days  while  awaiting  an  abatement  in  the 
weather,  took  the  prisoner  in  charge  and  confined  him,  un- 
der guard,  in  the  cabin  he  had  left  but  the  day  before. 

On  the  third  day  Howie  and  Fethcrstun  started  with 
John  for  Bannack,  the  weather  still  so  severe  that  they 
Mere  obliged  every  few  miles  to  stop  and  build  fires  to 
escape  freezing.  On  one  of  these  occasions,  while  Fether- 
stun  was  holding  the  horses  and  Howie  building  a  fire, 
their  guns  having  been  deposited  some  forty  feet  away,  the 
prisoner,  under  pretence  of  gathering  some  dry  wood  which 
was  in  a  direct  line  beyond  the  guns,  walked  rapidly 
towards  them,  intending  evidently  to  possess  himself  of 
the  weapons,  and  fight  his  way  to  an  escape.  His  design, 
however,  was  frustrated  by  his  captors,  who  fortunately 
secured  the  guns  before  he  could  reach  them. 

During  the  night  when  they  were  encamped  at  Red 
Rock,  misled  by  the  apparent  slumber  of  his  captors,  John 
rose  up,  but,  upon  gazing  around,  met  the  fixed  eye  of 
Howie,  and  immediately  resumed  his  recumbency.  As  the 
night  wore  on,  the  two  men,  worn  with  fatigue,  again  sunk 
into  repose.  Assured  by  their  heavy  breathing,  John 
again  rose  up,  but  scarcely  had  he  done  so  when  Neil,  ris- 
ing too,  said  quietly, 

"  John,  if  you  do  that  again,  I  '11  kill  you." 

The  ruffian  sunk  upon  his  blankets  in  despair.  He  felt 
that  he  was  in  the  keeping  of  one  who  never  slept  on  duty. 
Still  the  hope  of  escape  was  uppermost.  Seeing  a  camp 
by  the  roadside,  he  naturally  concluded  that  it  belonged 
\o  a  company  of  his  comrades,  and  commenced  shouting 
and  singing  to  attract  their  attention.  As  no  response 
followed  and  no  rescuers  appeared,  he  soon  became  silent 
and  despondent. 

This  trip  of  three  days'  duration,  with  the  thermometer 
thirty-five  degrees  below  ziro,  and  no  other  food  than 
the   shank   of   a  small   ham,    unltinjr   with    it   the  risk   of 


HOWIE  AND  FETHERSTUN      357 

assassination  and  personal  contest  with  robbers,  exposure 
to  an  arctic  atmosphere,  and  starvation,  while  it  bore 
ample  testimonj  to  the  moral  intrepidity  and  physical  en- 
durance of  Howie  and  Fetherstun,  and  marked  them  for  a 
pursuit  which  they  ever  after  followed,  was  also  rife  with 
associations  which  bound  these  brave  spirits  in  a  friend- 
ship that  only  death  could  sever.  It  is  no  injustice  to  any 
of  the  early  citizens  of  ^lontana  to  say  that,  not  less  for 
its  present  exemption  from  crime  and  misrule  than  for  the 
active  and  vigilant  measures  which,  in  its  early  history, 
visited  the  ruffians  with  punishment,  and  frightened  vil- 
lainy from  its  boundaries,  is  the  Territory  indebted  to  the 
efficient  cooperative  labors  of  these  self-sacrificing,  heroic 
men.  They  were  pioneers  who  deserve  to  rank  in  future 
history  with  such  men  as  Boone  and  Kenton ;  and  long 
after  the  names  of  many  now  oftener  mentioned  in  con- 
nection with  circumstances  of  trifling  import  are  for- 
gotten, theirs  will  be  remembered  and  honored.  Noble 
Howie !  how  short  a  time  it  seems  since  he  was  cut  down  in 
the  very  prime  of  his  manhood,  upon  the  distant  shores  of 
Guiana.  Many,  many  years  must  pass  before  the  mem- 
ory of  his  heroic  actions,  his  genial  nature,  his  warm,  im- 
pulsive friendship,  will  be  forgotten  by  those  who  knew  and 
loved  him  in  his  mountain  home. 

To  return  to  the  narrative.  When  the  captors  had  ar- 
rived at  Horse  Prairie,  twelve  miles  from  Bannack,  Fether- 
stun encamped  with  the  prisoner,  while  Howie  rode  on  to 
the  town  to  reconnoitre.  Fears  were  entertained  that  the 
roughs  would  attempt  a  rescue.  It  was  understood  that 
if  Howie  did  not  return  in  three  hours,  Fetherstun  should 
take  the  prisoner  into  town.  Accordingly,  he  proceeded 
with  him  without  molestation  to  Sears's  Hotel.  Soon  after- 
wards Howie,  meeting  Plummer,  said  to  him, 

"  I  have  captured  Dutch  John,  and  he  is  now  in  my 
custody  at  Sears's  Hotel." 


358  VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

"You  have?"   replied   Plummer  with   a  leer.      "What 
is  the  charge  against  him?  " 
"  Attacking  Moody's  train." 

"  Well,  I  suppose  you  are  willing  he  should  be  tried  by 
the  civil  authorities.  This  new  way  our  people  have  of 
hanging  men  without  law  or  evidence  is  n't  exactly  the 
thing.  It 's  time  a  stop  was  put  to  it.  I  '11  take  John 
into  my  custody  as  sheriff,  and  relieve  you  from  all  fur- 
ther responsibility." 

"  Not  exactly,  Plummer,"  replied  Howie.  "  I  shall  keep 
John  until  the  people's  tribunal  decides  whether  they  want 
him  or  not.  I  'vc  had  a  good  deal  of  trouble  in  bringing 
him  here,  and  don't  intend  he  shall  escape,  if  I  can  help  it." 
After  a  few  more  words  they  separated.  Meantime 
Fetherstun  had  left  Sears's  Hotel  with  his  prisoner,  and 
gone  down  the  street  to  Durand's  saloon.  Fetherstun,  be- 
ing an  entire  stranger,  kept  close  watch  of  his  prisoner. 
They  sat  down  at  a  table  and  engaged  in  a  game  at  cards. 
Howie  came  in,  and  warned  Fetherstun  to  be  on  the  alert 
for  a  rescue,  promising  to  return  in  a  few  minutes.  Buck 
Stinson  and  Ned  Ra}-  soon  after  made  their  appearance, 
and  shook  hands  with  John.  They  were  followed  by  four 
or  five  others,  and  the  number  finally  increased  to  fifteen. 
Fctherstun's  suspicions,  excited  from  the  first,  were  con- 
firmed on  seeing  one  of  the  men  step  up  to  John,  and  say 
in  an  authoritative  voice, 

"  You  are  my  prisoner  " ;  which  remark  was  followed 
by  a  glance  and  a  smile  by  the  ruffian,  as  much  as  to  say, 
"  I  'm  safe  now,  and  your  time  has  come." 

Fetherstun,  anticipating  an  attack  by  the  crew,  stepped 
into  a  corner,  and  drew  his  revolver.  Those  of  my  read- 
ers who  have  since  had  frequent  opportunity  to  estimate 
tjie  cool,  determined  courage  of  the  man,  will  know  that 
this  preliminary  movement  was  only  preparatory  to  the 
desperate  heroism  and   energy  with  which,  had   occasion 


JOHX    FETHKRSXrX 

Overland  cd: press  messenger 


HOWIE  AND  FETHERSTUN      359 

required  it,  he  would  then  have  sold  his  life  to  a  crowd 
of  supposed  desperadoes.  They  took  the  prisoner  awa^' 
without  resistance,  and  Fethcrstun  returned  to  his  hotel. 
Four  or  five  men  were  there,  of  whom,  on  inquiry,  he 
learned  that  Howie  had  not  been  there.  As  soon  as  he 
heard  this,  he  said  to  them, 

""  Gentlemen,  I  don't  know  whom  I  am  addressing,  hut 
if  you  're  the  right  kind  of  men,  I  want  you  to  follow  me. 
I  am  afraid  the  road  agents  have  killed  Neil  Howie.  He 
left  me  half  an  hour  ago,  to  be  back  in  five  minutes." 

He  seized  his  gun,  and  was  about  to  leave  when  a  man 
opened  the  door,  and  told  him  not  to  be  uneasy.  This 
seemed  to  satisfy  all  the  company  except  Fetherstun.  He 
left  the  hotel,  gun  in  hand,  and  at  no  great  distance  came 
to  a  cabin  filled  with  men,  with  Dutch  John  as  the  central 
figure.  Being  denied  admission,  he  demanded  his  pris- 
oner. He  was  told  that  they  were  examining  him.  The 
men  whom  Fetherstun  had  mistaken  as  road  agents  had 
mistaken  him  for  the  same.  Explanations  soon  set  both 
right,  and  John  was  restored  to  the  custody  of  Howie  and 
Fethertsun,  who  marched  him  back  to  the  hotel,  where 
he  was  again  examined. 

After  many  denials  and  prevarications,  he  finally  made 
a  full  confession  of  guilt,  and  corroborated  the  statements 
which  "  Red  "  had  made,  implicating  the  persons  whose 
names  are  contained  in  the  list  he  had  furnished.  This 
concluded  the  labors  of  that  day,  and  at  a  late  hour  Howie 
and  Fetherstun,  unable  to  obtain  lodgings  for  their  pris- 
oner in  any  of  the  inhabited  dwellings  of  Bannack,  took 
him  to  an  empty  cabin  on  Yankee  Flat. 


CHAPTER   XXXV 
EXECUTION  OF  PLUMMER 

RETRIBUTION  followed  rapidly  upon  the  heels  of 
disclosure.  The  organization  of  the  Vigilantes  of 
Nevada  and  Virginia  City  was  effected  as  quietly  as  possi- 
ble, but  it  embraced  nearly  every  good  citizen  in  Alder 
Gulch.  Men  who  before  the  execution  of  Ives  were  seem- 
ingly indifferent  to  the  bloody  acts  of  the  desperadoes,  and 
even  questioned  the  expediency  of  that  procedure,  were 
now  eager  for  the  speedy  destruction  of  the  entire  band. 
Every  man  whose  name  appeared  on  the  list  furnished  by 
Yager  ("  Red  ")  was  marked  for  early  examination,  and,  if 
found  guilty,  for  condign  punishnient.  The  miners  forsook 
their  work  in  the  gulch  to  engage  in  the  pursuit  and  cap- 
ture of  the  ruffians,  regardless  alike  of  their  personal  in- 
terests, the  freezing  weather  of  a  severe  winter,  and  the 
utter  desolation  of  a  country  but  partially  explored,  im- 
mense in  extent,  destitute  of  roads,  and  unfurnished  even 
by  nature  with  any  protection  against  exposure. 

The  crisis  demanded  speedy  action.  The  delay  of  a 
day  or  even  an  hour  might  enable  the  leading  ruffians  to 
escape,  and  thus  defeat  the  force  of  a  great  and  efficient 
example.  The  ruffians  themselves  had  taken  the  alarm. 
Many  of  them  were  on  their  return  to  Walla  Walla,  and 
others  were  making  preparations  for  leaving.  It  was  of 
special  importance  to  the  object  in  hand,  that  Plummer, 
the  chief  of  the  robber  band,  should  be  the  first  to  suffer. 
That  individual,  ignorant  of  the  disclosures  that  had  been 
made  by  Yager,  was  at  Bannack,  quietly-  preparing  for 

860 


t 


EXECUTION  OF  PLUMMER       301 

an  early  departure  from  the  Territory.  Calm  and  placid 
in  outward  seeming,  his  conduct  bore  evidence  that  he  was 
all  terror  within.  He  was  too  familiar  with  the  extreme 
phases  of  character  not  to  suspect  tliat  he  had  possibly 
been  betrayed  by  some  of  the  number  that  had  been  cap- 
tured, though  much  too  polite  and  sagacious  to  manifest 
by  his  deportment  the  presence  of  any  such  suspicion. 
But  he  was  constantly  on  the  alert.  Not  a  beat  in  the  pulse 
of  the  community  escaped  his  notice.  Not  a  strange  face 
that  he  did  not  closely  scan,  nor  a  gathering  occur  whose 
details  escaped  him.  The  language  of  looks  and  signs  and 
movements  was  as  familiar  to  him  as  that  of  words,  and 
in  it  he  read  plainly  and  unmistakably  that  his  reign  of 
deception  was  at  an  end.  The  people  had  found  him  out, 
and  he  knew  it.  His  only  mistake  was  that  he  delayed 
action  until  it  was  too  late. 

At  a  late  hour  of  the  same  night  that  Dutch  John  was 
examined,  four  Vigilantes  arrived  at  Bannack  from  Vir- 
ginia City,  with  intelligence  of  the  organization  at  that 
place,  asking  the  cooperation  of  the  citizens  of  Bannack, 
and  ordering  the  immediate  execution  of  Plummer,  Stin- 
son,  and  Ray.  A  hurried  meeting  was  held,  and  the 
Sabbath  daylight  dawned  upon  a  branch  organization  at 
Bannack.  The  day  wore  on  unmarked  by  any  noticeable 
event  until  late  in  the  afternoon.  Three  horses  were  then 
brought  into  town,  which  were  recognized  as  belonging  to 
the  three  murderers. 

"  Aha !  "  said  one  citizen  to  another,  "  those  rascals 
scent  the  game  and  are  preparing  to  leave.  If  they  do, 
that  will  be  the  last  of  them." 

"We  can  block  that  game,"  was  the  rejoinder. 

Several  members  of  the  Vigilance  Committee  met  on  the 
spur  of  the  moment  and  adopted  measures  for  the  im- 
mediate arrest  and  execution  of  the  three  robbers.  Stin- 
son  and  Ray  were  arrested  without  opposition, —  one  at 


362  VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

Mr.  Toland's  cabin,  and  the  other,  stretched  at  the  time 
upon  a  gaming  table,  in  a  saloon.  The  party  detailed  to 
arrest  Plummer  found  him  at  his  cabin,  in  the  act  of 
washing  his  face.  Wiicn  informed  that  he  was  wanted  he 
manifested  great  unconcern,  and  proceeded  quietly  to  wipe 
his  face  and  hands. 

"  I  '11  be  with  you  in  a  moment,  ready  to  go  wherever 
you  wish,"  he  said  to  the  leader  of  the  Vigilantes.  Toss- 
ing down  the  towel  and  smoothing  his  shirt-sleeves,  he 
advanced  towards  a  chair  on  which  his  coat  was  lying, 
carelessly  remarking :  "  I  '11  be  ready  as  soon  as  I  can  put 
on  my  coat." 

One  of  the  party,  discovering  the  muzzle  of  his  pistol 
protruding  beneath  the  coat,  stepped  quickly  forward, 
saying  as  he  did  so,  "  I  '11  liand  your  coat  to  you." 

At  tlie  same  moment  he  secured  the  pistol,  which  being 
observed  by  Plununer,  he  turned  deathly  pale,  but  still 
maintained  sufficient  composure  to  converse  in  his  usual 
calm,  measured  tone.  The  fortunate  discovery  of  the 
pistol  defeated  the  desperate  measures  which  a  desperate 
man  would  have  employed  to  save  his  life.  With  his  ex- 
pertness  in  the  use  of  that  weapon,  he  would  doubtless 
have  slain  some  or  all  of  his  captors.  He  was  marched 
to  a  point  where,  as  designated  before  the  capture,  he 
joined  Stinson  and  Ray,  and  thence  the  three  were 
conducted  under  a  formidable  escort  to  the  gallows. 
This  structure,  roughly  framed  of  the  trunks  of 
three  small  pines,  stood  in  a  dismal  spot  three  hundred 
yards  from  the  centre  of  the  town.  It  had  been  erected  the 
})rtvious  season  by  Plummer,  who,  as  sheriff,  had  hanged 
thereon  one  John  Iloran,  who  had  been  convicted  of  the 
murder  of  Keelev.  Terrible  must  have  been  its  appear- 
ance as  it  loomed  up  in  the  bright  starlight,  the  only  ob- 
ject visible  to  the  gaze  of  the  guilty  men,  on  that  long 
waste  of  ghastly  snow.     A   negro   boy   came  up    to  the 


EXECUTION  OF  PLUMMER       363 

gallows  with  ropes  before  the  arrival  of  the  cavalcade.  All 
the  way,  Ray  and  Stinson  filled  the  air  with  curses.  Pluni- 
nier,  on  the  contrary,  first  begged  for  his  life,  and.  finding 
that  unavailing,  resorted  to  argument,  and  sought  to  per- 
suade his  captors  of  his  innocence. 

*'  It  is  useless,"  said  one  of  the  Vigilantes,  "  for  you  to 
beg  for  your  life ;  that  affair  is  settled,  and  cannot  be  al- 
tered. You  are  to  be  hanged.  You  cannot  feel  harder 
about  it  than  I  do;  but  I  cannot  help  it  if  I  would." 

"  Do  not  answer  me  so,"  persisted  the  now  humbled 
and  abject  suppliant,  "but  do  with  me  anything  else  you 
please.  Cut  off  my  ears,  and  cut  out  my  tongue,  and  strip 
me  naked  this  freezing  night,  and  let  me  go.  I  beg  you  to 
spare  my  life.  I  want  to  live  for  my  wife, —  my  poor  ab- 
sent wife.  I  wish  to  see  my  sister-in-law.  I  want  time  to 
settle  my  business  affairs.  Oh,  God !  "  Falling  upon  his 
knees,  the  tears  streaming  from  his  eyes,  and  with  his 
utterance  choked  with  sobs,  he  continued, 

"  I  am  too  wicked  to  die.  I  cannot  go  blood-stained  and 
unforgiven  into  the  presence  of  the  Eternal.  Only  spare 
me,  and  I  will  leave  the  country  forever." 

To  all  these,  and  many  more  petitions  in  the  same  vein, 
the  only  answer  was  an  assurance  that  his  pleadings  were 
all  in  vain,  and  that  he  must  die.  Meantime,  Stinson  and 
Ray  discharged  volley  after  volley  of  oaths  and  epithets  at 
the  Vigilantes,  emplo^'ing  all  the  offensive  language  of 
their  copious  vocabulary.  At  length  the  ropes  were  de- 
clared to  be  in  readiness,  and  the  stern  command  was 
given,  "  Bring  up  Ned  Ray." 

Struggling  wildly  in  the  hands  of  his  executioners,  the 
wretched  man  was  strung  up,  the  rope  itself  arresting  his 
curse  before  it  was  half  uttered.  Being  loosely  pinioned, 
he  thrust  his  fingers  under  the  noose,  and,  by  a  sudden 
twist  of  his  head,  the  knot  slipped  under  his  chin. 

"  There  goes  poor  Ned  Ray,"  whined  Stinson,  who  a 


364   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

moment  later  was  dangling  in  the  death-agony  by  his  side. 
As  Stinson  was  being  hoisted,  he  exclaimed,  "  I  '11  confess." 

Pliininicr  immediately  remarked,  "  We  've  done  enough 
already,  twice  over,  to  send  us  to  hell." 

Plummer's  time  had  come.  "  Bring  him  up,"  was  the 
stern  order.  No  one  stirred.  Stinson  and  Ray  were  com- 
mon villains;  but  Plunmicr,  steeped  as  he  was  in  infamy, 
was  a  man  of  intellect,  polished,  genial,  affable.  There 
was  something  terrible  in  the  idea  of  hanging  such  a  man. 
Plunnner  hiniself  had  ceased  all  importunity.  The  crisis 
of  self-abasement  had  passed,  hope  fled  with  it,  and  he 
was  now  composedly  awaiting  his  fate.  As  one  of  the 
^'igilantes  approached  him,  he  met  with  the  request, 

"  Give  a  man  time  to  pray." 

"  Certainly,"  replied  the  Vigilante,  "  but  say  your 
prayers  up  there,"  at  the  same  time  pointing  to  the  cross- 
beam of  the  gallows-frame. 

The  guilty    man    uttered   no   more   prayers.      Standing; 
erect  under  tiie  gallows,  he  took  off  his  necktie,  and,  throw- 
ing it  over  his  shoulder  to  a  young  man  who  had  boarded  I 
with  him,  he  said, 

"  Keep  that  to  remember  me  by,"  and,  turning  to  the 
^'igilantes,  he  said,  "  Now,  men,  as  a  last  favor,  let  me 
beg  that  you  will  give  me  a  good  drop." 

The  fatal  noose  being  adjusted,  several  of  the  strong- 
est of  the  Vigilantes  lifted  the  frame  of  the  unhappy  crimi- 
nal as  high  as  they  could  reach,  when,  letting  it  suddenly 
fall,  he  died  quickly,  without  a  struggle. 

The  weather  was  intensely  cold.  A  large  number  of 
persons  had  followed  the  cavalcade,  but  were  stopped  by; 
a  guard  some  distance  from  the  gallows.  The  Vigilantes 
surrounded  the  bodies  until  satisfied  that  the  hangman's 
noose  had  completed  their  work,  when  they  formed  and 
marched  back  to  the  town.  The  bodies  were  afterwards 
buried  l)v  tlie  friends  of  tlu-  criminals. 


EXECUTION  OF  PLUMMER       365 

Buck  Stinson  was  born  near  Greencastle,  Indiana.  His 
parents  removed  to  Andrew  County,  Missouri,  when  he 
was  about  fourteen  years  of  age.  He  was  a  bright  and 
very  studious  boy,  was  devoted  to  his  books,  which  he  read 
ahnost  constantly,  and  gave  promise  of  genius ;  and  many 
who  knew  him  predicted  for  him  a  brilliant  and  honorable 
future.     His  family  was  highly  respectable. 

Henry  Plummer  was  born  in  the  State  of  Connecticut, 
and  was  in  the  twenty-seventh  year  of  his  age  at  the  time  of 
his  death.  His  wife,  who  had  gone  to  her  former  home 
in  the  States  three  months  previous  to  his  execution,  was 
entirel^'^  ignorant  of  the  guilty  life  he  was  leading,  and  for 
some  time  after  his  death  believed  that  he  had  fallen  a  vic- 
tim to  a  conspiracy.  She  was,  however,  fully  undeceived, 
and  the  little  retrospect  which  her  married  life  with  him 
afforded,  convinced  her  of  his  infamy. 

Many  of  the  .citizens  of  Montana  doubted  whether  the 
name  by  which  he  was  known  was  his  true  one;  but  its 
genuineness  has  been  established  in  many  ways,  and,  among 
others,  by  the  following  incident,  which  I  here  relate  as  well 
to  illustrate  the  subtlety  of  Plummer,  as  to  show  the  stand- 
ing and  character  of  his  family  relations. 

In  the  Summer  of  1869,  soon  after  the  completion  of 
the  first  transcontinental  railway,  being  in  New  York  City, 
I  was  requested  by  Edwin  R.  Purple,  who  resided  in  Ban- 
nack  in  1862,  to  call  with  him  upon  a  sister  and  brother  of 
Plummer.  He  learned  from  them  that  they  had  been  mis- 
led concerning  the  cause  of  their  brother's  execution  by 
letters  which  he  wrote  to  them  in  1863,  in  which  he  told 
them  that  he  was  in  constant  danger  of  being  hanged  be- 
cause of  his  attachment  to  the  Union.  They  honestly  be- 
lieved that  his  loyalty  and  patriotism  had  cost  him  his 
life,  and  they  mourned  his  loss  not  only  as  a  brother,  but 
as  a  martyr  in  the  cause  of  his  country.  From  the  mo- 
ment that  they  heard  of  his  death,  they  had  determined,  if 


366   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

ever  opportunity  ofTcrcd,  to  pursue  and  punish  his  mur- 
derers, and,  with  that  purpose  in  view,  were  about  to  leave 
by  railroad  for  Ogden,  Utah,  and  complete  the  remaining 
five  hundred  miles  of  the  trip  to  Montana  by  stage  coach. 
The  next  day,  accompanied  by  Mr.  Purple,  I  had  an  in- 
terview with  them,  and  found  them  to  be  well-educated, 
cultivated  people.  They  were  very  eager  in  their  desire  to 
find  and  punish  the  murderers  of  their  brother,  and  re- 
peatedly avowed  their  intention  to  leave,  almost  imme- 
diately, in  pursuit  of  them.  Both  Mr.  Purple  and  I  used 
all  the  plausible  arguments  we  could  summon  to  dissuade 
them  from  the  undertaking,  without  revealing  any  of  the 
causes  which  led  to  Plummer's  death.  All  to  no  purpose. 
Finding  them  resolved,  we  concluded  that,  rather  than 
allow  them  to  suffer  from  the  deception  they  labored  un- 
der, we  would  put  in  their  hands  Dimsdale's  "  Vigilantes," 
with  the  assurance  that  all  it  contained  relative  to  their 
brother  was  true.  We  urged  them  to  satisfy  themselves, 
from  a  perusal  of  it,  of  the  utter  f ruitlessness  of  their  con- 
templated journey.  The  following  day  we  called  upon 
the  brother,  who,  with  a  voice  broken  by  sobs  and  sighs, 
informed  us  that  his  sister  was  so  prostrated  with  grief  at 
the  revelation  of  her  brother's  career  that  she  could  not 
see  us.  He  thanked  us  for  making  known  to  them  the  ter- 
rible history,  which  otherwise  they  would  have  learned  un- 
der circumstances  doubly  afflicting,  after  a  long  and  tedi- 
ous journey. 


CHAPTER   XXXVI 

DEATH  OF  PIZANTHIA 

THE  next  movements  of  the  Vigilantes  were  followed 
up  with  remarkable  expedition.  The  work  they 
had  laid  out  contemplated  the  execution  of  every  mem- 
ber of  Plummer's  band  who,  upon  fair  trial,  should  be 
proved  guilty  of  robbery  or  murder.  They  intended  also 
to  punish  such  incidental  rascals  as  were  known  to  be 
guilty  of  crime,  and  to  act  as  a  protective  police,  until 
such  time  as  a  competent  judiciary  should  be  established 
in  the  Territory.  There  were  many  suspicious  characters 
prowling  around  the  gulches,  who,  though  unaffiliated  with 
the  robber  gang,  were  engaged  in  the  constant  commission 
of  crimes.  Flumes  were  robbed,  burglaries  committed,  and 
broils  were  of  frequent  occurrence.  The  country  was  full 
of  horse  and  cattle  thieves.  By  prompt  and  severe  pun- 
ishment in  all  cases  of  detection,  and  by  the  speedy  arrest 
and  examination  of  all  suspected  persons,  the  Committee 
intended  to  strike  with  terror  the  entire  lawless  population, 
which  had  so  long  and  unceasingly  violated  the  laws  and 
privileges  of  civilized  life  with  impunity. 

The  execution  of  Plummer,  Stinson,  and  Ray  met  with 
general  approbation.  Every  good  man  in  the  community 
was  anxious  to  become  enrolled  on  the  list  of  the  Vigilantes. 
The  dark  shadow  of  crime,  which  had  hung  like  an  angry 
cloud  over  the  Territory,  had  faded  before  the  omnipres- 
ence of  Vigilante  justice.  The  very  feeling  of  safety  in- 
spired by  the  change  was  the  strongest  securit}"^  for  the 
growth  and  efficiency  of  the  organization. 

367 


308   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AXD  WAYS 

The  morning  succeeding  the  execution,  the  Committee 
met  to  dfvi.se  further  measures  for  the  arrest  of  the  crimi- 
nals still  at  large.  None  of  the  reputed  members  of  Plum- 
mer's  band  were  then  in  Bannack.  There  was,  however, 
a  Mexican  known  by  the  name  of  Jo  Pizanthia,  living  in 
a  little  cabin  built  against  the  side  of  one  of  the  hills  over- 
looking the  town.  Being  the  only  Mexican  in  the  place,  he 
went  by  the  designation  of  "  The  Greaser."  He  brought 
with  him  to  the  Territory  the  reputation  of  a  desperado, 
robber,  and  murderer.  With  a  view  to  investigating  his 
career  in  the  Territory,  the  Committee  ordered  his  imme- 
diate arrest,  and  sent  a  party  to  the  cabin  to  effect  it. 
The  little  building  was  closed,  and  there  was  nothing  in  the 
appearance  of  the  newly  fallen  snow  to  indicate  that  it  had 
been  occupied  since  the  previous  day.  George  Copley  and 
Smith  Ball,  two  esteemed  citizens,  led  the  public  force, 
and,  advancing  in  front  of  it  to  the  door  of  the  cabin, 
called  upon  the  Mexican  by  name  to  come  forth.  No  an- 
swer being  made,  they  concluded,  against  the  advice  of  their 
comrades,  to  enter  the  cabin.  Cautiously  lifting  the  latch, 
the  two  men  stepped  over  the  threshold,  each  receiving,  as 
he  did  so,  the  fire  of  the  desperate  inmate.  Copley  was 
shot  in  the  breast,  and  Ball  in  the  hip.  Both  staggered 
out,  exclaiming  in  the  same  breath,  "  I  'ni  shot."  Two  of 
the  company  supported  Copley  to  the  hotel,  but  the  poor 
follow  died  of  the  wound  in  a  few  moments.  Ball  recovered 
sufficiently  to  remain  upon  the  ground. 

When  it  was  known  that  Copley  was  killed,  the  exaspera- 
tion of  the  party  at  the  dastardly  deed  knew  no  bounds. 
They  instantly  decided  to  inflict  sunnnary  vengeance  upon 
the  murderer.  Protected  by  the  logs  of  the  cabin,  of 
which  the  door  was  the  only  entrance,  the  crowd  appre- 
ciated the  Mexican's  facilities  for  making  an  obstinate  and 
bloody  defence.  How  to  secure  him  without  injury  to 
themselves,  called  for  tjie  exercise  of  strategy  rather  than 


DEATH  OF  PIZANTHIA  369 

courage.  Fortunately,  a  dismounted  mountain  howitzer 
which  had  been  left  by  a  wagon  train  lay  near  by;  and 
bringing  this  to  a  point  within  a  few  rods  of  the  side  of 
the  cabin,  they  placed  it  upon  a  box,  and  loaded  it  with 
shell.  At  the  first  discharge,  the  fuse  being  uncut,  the 
missile  tore  through  the  logs  without  explosion.  The  sec- 
ond was  equally  unsuccessful,  on  account  of  the  shortness 
of  range.  Aim  was  now  directed  at  the  chimney,  upon 
the  supposition  that  the  man  might  have  sought  refuge 
within  it,  and  a  solid  shot  sent  through  it  —  the  men 
meantime  firing  into  the  hole  made  by  the  shell  in  the  side 
of  the  cabin.     No  shot  was  fired  in  return. 

A  storming  party  was  now  formed,  the  men  of  Nevada 
being  the  first  to  join  it.  Half  a  dozen  in  number,  the  men 
moved  steadily  onward  under  cover  of  neighboring  cabins, 
until  they  reached  the  space  between  them  and  the  be- 
leaguered citadel.  Rushing  impetuously  across,  they  stood 
in  front  of  the  entrance,  the  door  having  fallen  inwards  from 
the  fusillade.  Looking  cautiously  into  the  cabin,  they  dis- 
covered the  boots  of  the  Mexican,  protruding  beneath  the 
door,  which  had  fallen  upon  him.  Lifting  the  door,  they 
dragged  him  forth.  He  was  badly  injured,  but,  on  the 
moment  of  his  appearance.  Smith  Ball  emptied  his  re- 
volver into  his  body.  A  clothes-line  near  was  taken  down, 
and  fastened  round  his  neck,  and  an  ambitious  citizen 
climbed  a  pole,  and,  while  those  below  held  up  the  body  of 
the  expiring  Mexican,  he  fastened  the  rope  to  the  top  of 
the  pole.  Into  the  body  thus  suspended,  the  crowd  dis- 
charged more  than  a  hundred  shots, —  satiating  their  thirst 
for  revenge  upon  a  ghastly  corpse. 

While  this  scene  was  progressing,  several  other  persons 
were  engaged  in  tearing  down  the  cabin.  Throwing  it  into 
a  pile,  it  was  set  on  fire,  and,  when  fairly  in  a  blaze,  the 
riddled  body  of  Pizanthia  was  taken  down,  and  placed 
upon  the  pyre.     Its  destruction  by  the  devouring  element 


370  VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

was  complete;  not  a  vestige  of  the  poor  wretch  remained; 
though  the  next  morning  a  number  of  notorious  women 
were  early  at  the  spot,  engaged  in  panning  out  the  ashes 
of  the  ill-fated  desperado,  in  search  of  gold. 

This  entire  transaction  was  an  act  of  popular  ven- 
geance. The  people  were  infuriated  at  the  murder  of  Cop- 
ley, who,  besides  being  one  of  their  best  citizens,  was  a 
general  favorite.  There  seemed  to  be  no  occasion  or  excuse 
for  it,  as  the  \'igilantes  contemplated  nothing  more  by  the 
arrest  of  Pizanthia  than  an  examination  of  his  territorial 
record.  With  the  crimes  he  had  conunittcd  before  he  came 
to  the  Territory,  they  had  nothing  to  do;  and  if  he  had 
been  guilty  of  none  after  he  came  there,  the  heaviest  possi- 
ble punishment  they  would  have  inflicted  was  banishment. 
He  brought  his  fate  upon  himself.  It  was  a  brief  inter- 
lude in  \'igilante  history,  the  terrible  features  of  which, 
though  they  may  be  deemed  without  apology  or  excuse, 
need  not  seek  for  multiplied  precedents  outside  of  the  most 
enlightened  nations  or  most  refined  societies  in  all  Christen- 
dom, 


CHAPTER   XXXVII 

EXECUTION  OF  DUTCH  JOHN 

DUTCH  JOHN  was  still  a  prisoner  in  charge  of  Feth- 
erstun,  in  the  gloomy  cabin  on  Yankee  Flat,  a 
euphonious  title  given  to  a  little  suburb  of  a  dozen  cabins 
of  the  town  of  Bannack.  He  had  behaved  with  great  pro- 
priety, and  by  his  amiability  of  deportment  won  the  sym- 
pathy and  respect  of  his  captors.  The  revelations  which 
he  made  in  his  confession,  inplicating  others,  made  him 
fearful  of  his  former  companions  in  crime,  who,  he  knew, 
would  kill  him  on  the  first  opportunity.  One  night  dur- 
ing his  imprisonment  both  he  and  Fetherstun  were  alarmed 
by  the  sound  of  approaching  footsteps  and  suppressed 
voices  in  earnest  conversation.  Fetherstun  prepared  his 
arms  for  a  defence.  Casting  a  glance  at  his  prisoner, 
what  was  his  astonishment  to  see  him  standing  near  the 
door,  with  a  loaded  double-barrelled  gun,  awaiting  the  ap- 
proach of  the  outsiders. 

"  That 's  right,  John,"  said  Fetherstun  approvingly ; 
"  fire  upon  them  if  they  come.     Don't  spare  a  man." 

John  smiled  and  nodded,  levelling  the  muzzle  of  the  gun 
towards  the  sound,  but  the  ruffians  heard  the  click  of  the 
locks,  and  departed.  John  could  have  shot  his  keeper  and 
escaped,  but  he  feared  the  vengeance  of  his  comrades  more 
than  the  stern  justice  of  the  Vigilantes. 

The  fate  of  this  desperado  was  yet  undecided  by  the 
Committee.  He  was  not  without  strong  hope  of  escape, 
and  his  good  conduct  was  doubtless  attributable  to  the  be- 
lief that  both  Howie  and  Fetherstun  would  interpose  to 
save  him.    The  evening  of  the  day  after  the  death  of  Pizan- 

371 


372   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

thia,  the  Committee  met.  The  case  of  Dutch  John  came  up 
for  discussion.  If  it  had  been  consistent  with  the  laws  pre- 
scribed for  the  government  of  the  Committee,  John  would 
have  been  banished;  but  his  guilty,  blood-stained  record 
demanded  that  he  should  die.  He  had  been  a  murderer 
and  highwayman  for  years,  and  the  vote  for  his  immediate 
execution  was  unanimous.  The  decision  was  reduced  to 
writing,  and  a  member  of  the  Committee  deputed  to  read 
it  to  the  prisoner,  and  inform  him  that  he  would  be  exe- 
cuted in  one  hour.  The  wretched  man  was  overcome.  He 
rose  from  his  blankets,  and  paced  several  times  excitedly 
across  the  floor.  Like  Plummer,  he  then  resorted  to  sup- 
plication. 

"  Do  with  me  as  you  please.  Disable  me  in  any  way,  cut 
off  my  hands  and  feet,  but  let  me  live.  You  can  certainly 
destroy  my  power  for  harm  without  taking  my  life." 

*'  Your  request  cannot  be  complied  with,"  said  the  mes- 
senger.    "  You  must  prepare  to  die." 

"  So  be  it,  then,"  he  replied,  and  immediately  all  signs 
of  weakness  disappeared.  "  I  wish,"  he  continued,  "  to 
write  to  my  mother.  Is  tliere  a  German  here  who  can 
write  my  native  language?  " 

Such  a  person  was  sent  for.  Under  John's  dictation, 
he  wrote  a  letter  to  his  mother.  It  was  read  to  him,  and 
he  was  so  dissatisfied  with  it  tliat  he  removed  the  rags  from 
his  frozen  hands  and  fingers,  and  wrote  himself. 

He  told  his  mother  that  he  had  been  condemned  to  death, 
and  would  be  executed  in  a  few  minutes.  In  explanation 
of  his  offence,  he  wrote  that  while  coming  from  the  Pacific 
side,  to  deal  in  horses,  he  had  fallen  into  the  company  of 
bad  men.  They  had  beguiled  him  into  the  adoption  of  a 
career  of  infamy.  He  was  to  die  for  aiding  in  the  rob- 
bery of  a  wagon,  while  engaged  in  wliich  he  had  been 
wounded,  and  his  companion  was  slain.  His  sentence, 
though  severe,  he  acknowledged  to  be  just. 


EXECUTION  OF  DUTCH  JOHN  373 

Handing  the  letter  to  the  \  igihmtes,  he  quietly  replaced 
the  bandages  upon  his  unhealed  fingers.  His  manner, 
thougli  grave  and  solemn,  was  composed  and  dignified. 
Something  in  his  conduct  showed  that  he  truly  loved  his 
mother,  ^luch  S3'mpathy  for  him  was  evinced  in  the  man- 
ner and  attention  of  those  who  conducted  him  to  the  place 
of  execution,  in  an  unfinished  building  at  no  great  dis- 
tance from  his  place  of  confinement.  The  first  objects 
whidi  met  his  gaze,  as  he  stood  beneath  the  fatal  beam, 
were  the  bodies  of  Plummer  and  Stinson,  the  one  laid  out 
upon  the  floor  for  burial,  the  other  upon  a  work-bench. 
He  gazed  upon  their  ghastly  features  unshrinkingly,  and 
in  clear  tones  asked  leave  to  pray,  which  was  readily 
granted.  Kneeling  down,  amid  the  profound  silence  of  a 
crowd  of  spectators,  his  lips  moved  rapidly,  and  his  face 
wore  a  pleading  expression,  but  his  utterance  was  inaudi- 
ble. Rising  to  his  feet,  while  seemingly  still  engaged  in 
prayer,  he  cast  an  expressive  glance  at  the  audience,  and 
then  surveyed  the  provisions  made  for  his  execution.  A 
rope  with  the  fatal  noose  dangled  from  the  cross-beam, 
and  beneath  it  stood  a  barrel,  around  which  was  a  cord, 
whose  ends,  stretching  across  the  floor,  left  no  doubt  as  to 
the  office  it  w^as  extemporized  to  perform. 

"How  long,"  he  inquired,  "will  it  take  me  to  die?  I 
have  never  seen  a  man  hanged." 

"  It  will  be  very  short,  John, —  very  short.  You  will 
not  suffer  much  pain,"  was  the  reply  of  a  Vigilante. 

The  poor  wretch  mounted  the  barrel,  and  stood  per- 
fectly unmoved  while  the  rope  was  adjusted  to  his  neck. 
The  men  laid  hold  of  the  rope  which  encircled  the  barrel. 
Everything  being  prepared,  at  the  words,  "  All  ready," 
the  barrel  was  jerked  from  beneath  him,  and  the  stalwart 
form  of  the  robber,  after  several  pow^erful  struggles,  hung 
calm  and  still.  Dutch  John  had  followed  his  leader  to  the 
other  shore. 


CHAPTER   XXXVIII 

VIRGINIA  CITY  EXFX'UTIOXS 

WHILE  the  events  I  have  just  recorded  were  in  prog- 
ress at  Bannack,  the  Vigihmtes  of  \'irginia  City 
were  not  inactive.  Alder  Gulch  had  been  the  stronghold 
of  the  roughs  ever  since  its  discovery.  Nearly  all  their 
predatory  expeditions  had  been  fitted  out  there.  Being 
much  the  largest,  richest,  and  most  populous  mining  camp 
in  the  Territory,  the  opportunities  it  afforded  for  rob- 
bery were  more  frequent  and  promising,  and  less  liable  to 
discovery,  than  either  Bannack  or  Deer  Lodge.  It  was 
also  filled  with  saloons,  hurdy-gurdies,  bagnios,  and  gam- 
bling-rooms, all  of  which  were  necessities  in  the  lives  of 
these  free  rangers  of  the  mountains.  At  the  time  of  which 
I  write  there  was  a  population  of  at  least  twelve  thousand, 
scattered  through  the  various  settlements  from  Junction  to 
Sunnnit,  a  distance  of  twelve  miles.  It  was  essentially  a 
cosmopolitan  community, —  American  in  preponderance, 
but  liberally  sprinkled  with  people  from  all  the  nations  of 
Europe.  Some  were  going,  and  others  coming,  every  day. 
Gold  dust  was  abundant,  and  freedom  from  social  and 
moral  restraint  characterized  all  classes,  to  an  extent 
bordering  upon  criminal  license. 

The  Vigilantes,  more  than  ever,  after  it  was  decided  to 
execute  Plummer,  comprehended  the  necessity  for  prompt 
and  vigorous  measures,  as  that  event  of  itself  would  be 
the  signal  for  all  the  guilty  followers  of  that  chief  to  fly 
the  Territory.  Accordingly,  having  ascertained  that  six 
of  the  robber  band  were  still  remaining  in  ^'irginia  City, 
the  Executive  Committee  decided  upon  effectual  means  for 

874 


VIRGINIA  CITY  EXECUTIONS    375 

tlieir  immediate  arrest.  On  the  thirteenth  day  of  January, 
throe  days  after  Plunimcr  was  executed,  an  order  was, 
([uietly  made  for  the  Vigilantes  to  assemble  at  night  in 
sufficient  force  to  surround  the  city.  Not  a  man  was  to 
be  permitted  to  leave  the  city  after  the  line  of  guards  was 
established.  Bill  Hunter,  one  of  the  six  marked  for  cap- 
ture, suspecting  the  plot,  effected  his  escape  by  crawling 
beyond  the  pickets  in  a  drain  ditch.  The  city  was  encir- 
cled, after  nightfall,  by  more  than  five  hundred  armed  men, 
so  quietly  that  none  within,  except  the  Vigilantes,  knew 
of  it  until  the  next  morning.  All  that  long  winter  night, 
while  that  cordon  of  iron  men  was  quietly  stretching  along 
the  heights  overlooking  the  city,  the  Executive  Commit- 
tee sat  in  council,  deliberating  upon  the  evidences  of  guilt 
against  the  men  enmeshed  in  their  toils. 

At  the  same  time  another  small  band  was  assembled 
around  a  faro  table  in  the  chamber  of  a  gambling-saloon. 
Jack  Gallagher  suddenly  broke  the  silence  of  the  game  with 
the  remark, 

"  While  we  are  here  betting,  those  Vigilantes  are  passing 
sentence  of  death  upon  us." 

Wonderful  prescience !  He  little  knew  or  realized  the 
truth  which  this  observation  had  for  him  and  his  comrades 
in  iniquity. 

Morning  broke,  cold  and  cloudy,  discovering  to  the 
eves  of  the  citizens  the  pickets  of  the  Vigilantes.  The  city 
was  like  an  intrenched  camp.  Hundreds  of  men,  with  guns 
at  the  shoulder,  were  marching  through  the  snow  on  all 
the  surrounding  hillsides,  with  military  regularity  and 
precision.  The  preparation  could  not  have  been  more  per- 
fect if  made  to  oppose  an  invading  army.  There  was  no 
misunderstanding  this  array.  People  talked  with  bated 
breath  to  each  other  of  the  certain  doom  which  awaited  the 
villains  who  had  so  long  preyed  upon  their  substance,  and 
spread  terror  through  the  country. 


376  VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

Messengers  were  sent  to  the  different  towns  in  the  gulch 
to  summon  the  Vigilantes  to  appear  forthwith,  and  take 
part  in  the  trial  of  the  ruffians.  At  the  same  time  parties 
were  detailed  to  arrest  and  bring  the  criminals  before  the 
Committee.  Boone  Helm,  Jack  Gallagher,  Frank  Parish, 
Hayes  Lyons,  George  Lane,  and  Bill  Hunter  were  known 
to  be  in  the  city  at  the  time  the  picket  guard  was  stationed. 
Of  these,  Hunter  had  escaped.  The  \'igilantes  from  Ne- 
vada, Junction,  Summit,  Pine  Grove,  and  Highland 
marched  into  town  in  detachments,  and  formed  in  a  body  on 
jNIain  Street.     The  town  was  full  of  people. 

Frank  Parish,  the  first  prisoner  brought  in,  was  quietly 
arrested  in  a  store.  He  exhibited  little  fear.  Taking 
an  executive  officer  aside, 

"  What,"  he  inquired,  "  am  I  arrested  for.''  " 

"  For  being  a  road  agent,  tiiief,  and  an  accessory  to 
numerous  robberies  and  murders  on  the  highway." 

"  I  am  innocent  of  all, —  as  innocent  as  you  are." 

When,  however,  he  was  put  upon  his  examination 
before  the  Committee,  and  facts  were  brought  home  to  him, 
he  receded  from  his  position  of  innocence,  and  confessed 
to  more  and  greater  offences  than  were  charged  against 
him. 

"  I  was,"  said  he,  "  one  of  the  party  that  robbed  the 
coach  between  Virginia  City  and  Bannaclv." 

This  confession  took  the  Committee  by  surprise.  He 
then  admitted  that  he  had  been  guilty  of  horse-stealing 
for  the  robbers,  and  had  butchered  stolen  cattle  to  supply 
them  with  food.  He  was  fully  cognizant  of  all  their 
criminal  enterprises,  and  shared  with  them  as  a  member 
of  the  band.  I'pon  this  confession  he  was  condemned  to 
suffer  death.  He  gave  directions  concerning  his  clothing 
and  the  settlement  of  his  debts.  His  case  being  disposed 
of,  he  was  committed  to  the  custody  of  a  strong  guard. 

George    Lane    (Clubfoot    George),    who    has    figured 


VIRGINIA  CITY  EXECUTIONS    377 

conspicuously  in  this  history,  was  next  introduced  into 
the  presence  of  the  Committee.  He  was  arrested  without 
trouble,  at  Dance  and  Stuart's  store.  Perfectly  calm 
and  collected,  he  inquired, 

"  Why  am  I  arrested?  " 

On  receiving  the  same  answer  that  had  been  given  to 
Parish,  he  replied, 

"  If  you  hang  me,  you  will  hang  an  innocent  man." 

"  We  have  positive  proof  of  your  guilt,"  was  the  re- 
sponse of  the  examining  officer.  "  There  is  no  possibility 
of  a  mistake." 

"What  will  you  do  with  me.?" 

"Your  sentence  is  death,"  was  the  answer. 

His  eyes  dropped,  and  his  countenance  wore  an  expres- 
sion of  deep  contrition.  For  some  moments  he  covered  his 
face  with  his  hands,  seemingly  overcome  by  the  dreadful 
announcement.  At  length,  dropping  his  hands,  and  look- 
ing into  the  face  of  the  officer,  he  inquired, 

"  Can  I  have  a  minister,  to  pray  for  and  talk  with  me.''  " 

"  One  shall  be  immediately  sent  for." 

And  when  the  clergyman  appeared,  Lane,  in  care  of  the 
guard,  spent  his  remaining  hours  of  life  in  attending  to 
the  affairs  of  his  soul. 

While  his  examination  was  progressing,  parties  came  In 
with  Boone  Helm  and  Jack  Gallagher.  The  former  had 
been  arrested  by  strategy,  while  standing  in  front  of  the 
Virginia  Hotel.  With  an  armed  man  on  either  side,  and 
one  behind  with  a  pistol  presented  to  his  head,  this  veteran 
scoundrel,  bloodier  far  than  any  of  his  comrades,  was 
marched  into  the  presence  of  his  judges. 

"  Ah !  "  he  exclaimed,  "  if  I  'd  only  had  a  show,  if  I  'd 
known  what  you  were  after,  you  would  have  had  a  gay  old 
time  in  taking  me." 

His  right  hand  was  wounded,  and  supported  by  a  sling. 
With  much  apparent  serenity,  he  sat  down  on  a  bench,  and 


378   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

looked  defiantly  into  the  faces  of  the  members  of  the 
Committee. 

"What  do  you  want  of  nic  here?"  he  inquired,  affect- 
ing entire  ignorance  of  the  cause  of  his  arrest. 

"  We  liHvc  proof  that  you  belong  to  Plummcr's  band  of 
robbers,  that  you  have  been  guilty  of  highway  robbery  and 
murder,  and  wish  to  hear  what  you  have  to  say  to  these 
charges." 

"  I  am  as  innocent,"  replied  the  miscreant,  in  a  deliber- 
ate tone,  "  as  the  babe  unborn.  I  never  killed  any  one,  nor 
robbed  or  defrauded  any  man.  I  am  willing  to  swear  it  on 
the  Bible." 

Less  for  any  more  important  purpose  than  that  of  test- 
ing the  utter  depravity  of  the  wretch,  the  interrogator 
handed  him  a  Bible.  With  the  utmost  solemnity  of  man- 
ner and  expression,  he  repeated  the  denial,  invoking  the 
most  terrible  penalties  upon  his  soul,  in  attestation  of  its 
truthfulness,  and  kissed  the  volume  impressively  at  its 
close. 

The  Committee  regarded  this  sacrilegious  act  of  the 
crime-hardened  reprobate  with  mingled  feelings  of  horror 
and  disgust. 

"  This  denial,"  said  the  president,  "  can  avail  you  noth- 
ing. Your  life  for  many  years  has  been  a  continuous 
career  of  crime.  It  is  necessary  that  you  should  die.  You 
had  better  improve  the  little  time  left  you  in  preparation." 

Helm  looked  hopelessly  around,  but  saw  no  glance  of 
sympathy  in  the  stem  features  of  his  judges.  Beckoning 
to  a  person  standing  near,  he  whispered, 

"  Can  I  see  you  alone  for  a  few  minutes?  " 

The  man,  supposing  that  he  was  desirous  of  obtaining 
spiritual  covuisel,  replied, 

"  I  will  send  for  a  clergyman." 

"  No,"  was  the  instant  rejoinder.  "  I  want  no  clergy- 
man.    You  '11  do  as  well." 


VIRGINIA  CITY  EXECUTIONS    379 

Stepping  into  the  inner  room,  Helm  closed  the  door, 
and,  turning  to  the  man,  in  an  anxious  tone  asked, 

"  Is  there  no  way  of  getting  out  of  this  scrape?  " 

"  None.  No  power  here  is  available  to  save  you.  You 
nmst  die." 

"  Well,  then,"  said  he,  "  I  '11  admit  to  you  that  I  did  kill 
a  man  b^'  the  name  of  Shoot,  in  Missouri.  When  I  left  there 
I  went  to  California,  and  killed  another  chap  there.  I  was 
confined  in  jail  in  Oregon,  and  dug  my  way  out  with  tools 
given  me  by  my  squaw." 

"  Now,"  said  his  confessor,  "  having  told  me  thus  nmch, 
will  you  not  give  me  what  information  you  can  concerning 
the  band  to  which  you  belong,  their  names,  crimes,  and 
purposes .''  " 

"  Ask  Jack  Gallagher.     He  knows  more  than  I  do." 

Gallagher,  who  had  been  brought  into  an  adjoining 
apartment,  separated  from  the  one  in  which  this  conver- 
sation occurred  by  a  thin  board  partition,  on  hearing  this 
reference  to  himself,  poured  forth  a  torrent  of  profane 
abuse  upon  the  head  of  his  guilty  confederate. 

"  It  is  just  such  cowardly  rascals  and  traitors  as  you," 
said  he,  "  that  have  brought  us  into  this  difficulty.  You 
ought  to  die  for  your  treachery." 

"  I  have  dared  death  in  all  its  forms,"  said  Helm,  "  and 
I  do  not  fear  to  die.     Give  me  some  whiskey." 

The  guilty  wretch,  having  been  consigned  to  the  custody 
of  keepers,  steeped  what  little  sensibility  he  possessed  in 
whiskey,  and  passed  the  time  until  the  execution  in  ribald 
jesting  and  profanity. 

Jack  Gallagher  bounded  into  the  committee-room,  swear- 
ing and  laughing,  as  if  the  whole  affair  was  intended  as  a 
good  joke. 

"  What,"  said  he,  with  an  oath  and  epithet  appended  to 
every  word,  "  is  it  all  about.'*  This  is  a  pretty  break, 
isn't  it?" 


380  VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

On  being  informed  of  tlie  charges  against  him,  and  the 
sentence  of  tlic  Committee,  he  dropped  into  a  seat  and  be- 
gan to  cry.  In  a  few  moments  he  jumped  up,  and  with  much 
expletive  emphasis  demanded  the  names  of  the  persons  who 
had  informed  against  him. 

"  It  was  '  Red,'  who  was  hanged  a  few  weeks  ago  on  the 
Stinking  Water." 

Galhigher  cursed  tlie  dead  ruffian  for  a  traitor,  liar,  and 
coward,  in  the  same  breath. 

"  My  God!  "  said  he,  "  must  I  die  in  this  way.^  "  He 
was  taken  out  of  the  committee-room  while  uttering  the 
most  terrible  oaths  and  blaspiiemies. 

Hayes  Lyons,  the  only  remaining  ruffian,  had  not  yet 
been  arrested.  The  party  detailed  for  that  object,  while 
searching  for  him  at  the  Arbor  Restaurant,  had  found  and 
captured  Gallagher,  on  learning  which  the  Gallagher  pur- 
suers immediately  took  up  the  hunt  for  Lyons.  Foiled  at 
several  points,  they  accidentally  learned  that  he  had  crossed 
the  crags  overhanging  the  gulch,  and,  after  wandering  in 
a  circuit  of  several  miles  through  the  mountains,  had  come 
back  to  a  miner's  cabin  but  half  a  mile  distant  from  his 
point  of  departure.  Proceeding  with  all  possible  speed 
to  the  cabin,  the  leader  threw  open  the  door,  and,  bring- 
ing his  pistol  to  a  deadly  aim,  exclaimed, 

"  Throw  up  your  hands." 

Lyons,  who  was  in  the  act  of  raising  a  piece  of  a  griddle- 
cake  to  his  mouth,  dropped  the  fork  instantly,  and  obeyed 
the  order. 

"  Come  out  here,  and  surrender  at  once,"  was  the  next 
connnand. 

He  was  in  his  shirt-sleeves,  and,  as  he  stepped  out  into 
the  biting  atmosphere,  he  asked  in  an  undertone, 

"  Will  some  one  get  my  coat?  " 

A  nuniber  of  the  party  brought   it  to  him,  and  assistc 
him  in  putting  it  on.     He  trembled  so  much  with  fear  that 


toil 

1 


1 


VIRGINIA  CITY  EXECUTIONS    381 

it  was  with  difficulty  he  could  get  his  arms  into  the  sleeves. 
While  the  part 3^  was  searching  him  to  ascertain  if  he  was 
armed,  he   said, 

"  You  disturbed  me  in  the  first  meal  I  have  sat  down  to 
with  an}'  appetite  in  six  weeks." 

"  Finish  your  dinner,"  said  the  leader.  "  We  will  wait 
for  you." 

"  Thank  you ;  you  are  very  kind,  but  I  can  eat  no  more. 
What  do  you  intend  doing  with  me?     Will  I  be  hung?  " 

"  We  are  not  here  to  promise  you  anything.  You  had 
better  prepare  for  the  worst." 

"  jMy  friends  advised  me  to  leave  two  or  three  days  ago." 

"  You  would  probably  have  done  well  had  you  followed 
their  advice.    Why  did  n't  you  go?  " 

"  Because  I  had  done  nothing  wrong,  and  did  not  wish 
to  leave." 

It  is  probable  that  but  for  the  blandishments  of  a  fas- 
cinating mistress,  the  memory  of  Dillingham's  murder 
would  have  dictated  to  this  ruffian  an  earlier  and  more  suc- 
cessful effort  at  escape. 

"  Have  3'ou  heard  of  the  execution  of  Plummer,  Stinson, 
and  Ray?  "  asked  the  leader. 

"  Yes ;  but  I  don't  believe  the  report  is  true." 

"  You  may  bet  your  sweet  life  on  't." 

"Did  they  make  any  resistance?  " 

"  No ;  they  had  no  opportunity." 

Arriving  at  the  committee-room,  the  prisoner  was  Im- 
mediately confronted  with  the  officers. 

"  We  have  condenmcd  you  to  death  for  the  murder  of 
Dillingham,  and  being  associated  in  membership  with  Plum- 
mer's  band  of  road  agents.  Have  you  anything  to  say  in 
extenuation?  " 

"  That  I  am  not  guilty.  I  have  committed  no  crimes, 
and  formed  no  associations  that  call  for  such  severity.  I 
am  as  innocent  as  you  are." 


382   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

And  yet,  but  a  short  time  before,  the  wretched  man  had 
confessed  to  a  leader  of  one  of  the  poHce  committees,  in 
presL-ncL-  of  several  witnesses,  that  he  was  the  murderer  of 
Dillingham.  His  complicity  with  Plummer's  band  was 
known  to  all. 

Scarcely  was  Lyons's  examination  concluded,  when  word 
was  brought  to  the  Committee  that  two  suspicious  per- 
sons, who  had  gone  hurriedly  to  Highland  district,  three 
miles  above  Virginia  City,  the  evening  before,  were  con- 
cealed in  one  of  the  unoccupied  cabins  there.  An  officer 
with  fifteen  men  was  sent  to  arrest  them.  They  were  dis- 
armed, and  brought  before  the  Committee,  but,  no  evidence 
appearing  against  them,  they  were  discharged. 

The  examination  being  over,  preparations  were  made  for 
the  execution  of  the  convicts.  These  were  very  simple. 
The  central  cross-beam  of  an  unfinished  log  store,  cor- 
nering upon  two  of  the  principal  streets,  was  selected  for 
a  scaflfold.  The  building  was  roofless,  and  its  spacious 
open  front  exposed  the  interior  to  the  full  view  of  the  crowd. 
The  ropes,  five  in  nmnber,  were  drawn  across  the  beam  to 
a  proper  length,  and  fastened  firmly  to  the  logs  in  the  rear 
basement.  Under  each  noose  was  placed  a  large,  empty 
dry-goods  box,  with  cord  attached,  for  the  drops. 

Beside  the  large  body  of  armed  Vigilantes,  a  great  num- 
ber of  eager  spectators  had  assembled  from  all  parts  of 
the  gulch  to  witness  the  execution.  Six  or  eight  thousand 
persons,  comprehending  the  larger  portion  of  the  popu- 
lation of  the  Territory,  gathered  into  a  compact  mass, 
when  the  prisoners,  with  their  armed  escort,  marched  from 
the  connnittce-rooms  into  the  street,  and  were  ranged  in 
front  of  the  guard. 

"  You  are  now,"  said  the  president,  addressing  them,  "  to 
be  conducted  to  the  scaft'old.  An  opportunity  is  given  you 
to  make  your  last  requests  and  comnuinlcatlons.  You  will 
do  Well  to  Improve  It  by  making  a  confession  of  your  own 


VIRGINIA  CITY  EXECUTIONS    383 

Climes,  and  putting  the  Committee  in  possession  of  infor- 
mation as  to  the  crimes  of  others." 

Tlie  prisoners  separately  decHned  to  make  any  communi- 
cation. When  the  guard  were  about  to  fasten  their  arms, 
Jack  Gallaglicr,  with  an  oath,  exchiimed, 

"  I  will  not  be  hung  in  public,"  and,  drawing  his  pocket- 
knife,  he  applied  the  blade  to  his  throat,  saying,  "  I  will 
cut  ni}'  throat  first." 

The  executive  officer  instantly  cocked  and  presented  his 
pistol. 

"  If  you  make  another  move  of  your  arm,"  said  he,  "  I 
will  shoot  you  like  a  dog.  Take  the  knife  from  him,  and 
pinion  him  at  once,"  he  continued,  addressing  the  guard. 
The  ruffian  cursed  horribly,  all  the  while  his  arms  were 
being  tied. 

Boone  Helm,  with  customary  adjective  profanity,  said 
to  Gallagher  in  a  consolatory  tone, 

"  Don't  make  a  fool  of  yourself.  Jack.  There  's  no  use 
or  sense  in  being  afraid  to  die." 

After  the  process  of  binding  was  completed,  each  pris- 
oner was  seized  by  the  arm  on  either  side,  by  a  Vigilante 
who  held  in  the  hand  not  thus  employed  a  navy  revolver, 
ready  for  instant  use.  The  large  body  of  armed  Vigilantes 
were  then  formed  around  the  prisoners,  into  a  hollow 
square,  four  abreast  on  each  side,  and  a  column  in  front 
and  rear.  A  few  men  with  pistols  were  dispersed  among  the 
crowd  of  spectators,  to  guard  against  any  possible  at- 
tempt at  rescue.  Thus  formed,  the  procession  marched  in 
the  direction  of  the  scaffold  with  slow  and  solemn  pace.  The 
silence  of  the  great  throng  was  unbroken  by  a  whisper,  and, 
more  eloquently  than  language  could  have  done,  declared 
the  feelings  of  anxiety  and  suspense  by  which  all  were  ani- 
mated. Some  little  delay  being  necessary  to  complete  the 
preparations  at  the  scaffold,  the  procession  halted  in  front 
of  the  Virginia  Hotel,  on  the  corner  diagonally  from  it 


384   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

across  Main  Street.  While  waiting  there,  Clubfoot 
George  called  to  his  side  Judge  Dance,  and  said  to  him, 

"  You  have  known  me  ever  since  I  came  to  Virginia  City, 
more  intimately  than  any  other  man.  We  have  had  deal- 
ings together.  Can  you  not  in  this  hour  of  extremity  say 
a  good  word  for  my  character?  " 

"  It  would  be  of  no  use,  George.  Your  dealings  with  me 
have  always  been  fair  and  honorable;  but  what  you  have 
done  outside,  I  only  know  from  the  evidence,  and  that  is 
very  strong  against  you.     I  can  do  you  no  good." 

"  Well,  then,"  said  the  penitent  ruffian,  "  will  you  pray 
with  me?  " 

"Willingly,  George;  most  willingly,"  and,  suiting  the 
action  to  the  word,  the  judge  dropped  upon  his  knees,  and, 
witii  George  and  Gallagher  kneeling  beside  him,  offered 
up  a  fervent  petition  in  behalf  of  the  doomed  men.  Boone 
Helm  was  irritated  at  this  request,  and,  raising  his  sore 
finger,  exclaimed, 

"  For  God's  sake,  if  you  're  going  to  hang  me,  I  want 
you  to  do  it,  and  get  through  with  it ;  if  not,  I  want  you  to 
tie  a  bandage  on  my  finger." 

While  the  prayer  was  in  progress,  Hayes  Lyons  re- 
quested that  his  hat  should  be  removed.  Frank  Parish 
gave  abundant  evidence  of  deep  contrition,  but  Boone  Helm 
continued,  as  from  the  first,  to  treat  all  the  proceedings 
witli  profane  and  reckless  levity. 

Gallagher,  at  one  moment  cursing,  and  at  the  next  cry- 
ing, seemed  the  least  composed  of  any  of  the  prisoners.  He 
wore  a  handsome  cavalry  overcoat,  trimmed  with  beaver. 

"  Give  me  that  coat.  Jack,"  said  Helm,  as  Gallagher  rose 
from  his  knees.     "  You  never  yet  gave  me  anything." 

"  It  's  little  use  you  Ml  make  of  it  now,"  responded  Gal- 
lagher with  on  oath,  and,  catching  at  the  moment  the  eye 
of  an  ar(]uaintance,  who  was  regarding  him  from  a  win- 
dow of  the  liotel,  he  callid  to  him  in  a  loud  tone, 


1 


« 


VIRGINIA  CITY  EXECUTIONS    385 

"  Say,  old  fellow,  I  'm  going  to  heaven.  I  '11  be  there  in 
time  to  open  the  gate  for  you." 

"  Halloo,  Bill !  "  said  Boone  Helm  to  one  in  the  crowd, 
"  they  've  got  nie  this  time ;  got  me,  sure,  and  no  mistake." 

Hayes  Lyons  begged  of  his  captors  the  privilege  of  see- 
ing his  mistress.  "  Let  me  bid  her  good-bye  and  restore 
this  watch  to  her,  which  is  her  property."  The  request  was 
refused,  only  to  be  repeated,  and  on  being  made  a  third 
time  he  received  for  answer, 

"  Hayes !  bringing  women  to  the  place  of  execution 
'  played  out '  in  '63,  when  they  interfered  with  your  trial 
for  killing  Dillingham." 

The  unhappy  wretch  ceased  further  importunity. 

When  the  arrangements  at  the  scaffold  were  completed, 
the  guard  crossed  the  street,  opened  ranks,  and  the  pris- 
oners were  conducted  through  into  the  building,  each  as 
he  entered  stepping  upon  one  of  the  dry-goods  boxes. 
Ranged  side  by  side,  Clubfoot  George  was  first  on  the 
east  side  of  the  room ;  next  to  him  was  Hayes  Lyons,  then 
Jack  Gallagher,  then  Boone  Helm,  and  near  the  west  wall 
Frank  Parish.  The  area  in  front  of  them  was  occupied  by 
the  guard  and  the  members  of  the  Executive  Committee. 
The  two  streets  in  front  and  at  the  side  of  the  building 
were  crowded  with  armed  Vigilantes  and  spectators.  The 
order  being  given  to  remove  the  hats  of  the  prisoners. 
Clubfoot  George,  whose  hands  were  loosely  fastened,  con- 
trived to  reach  his  hat,  which  he  threw  spitefully  on  the 
floor,  the  hats  of  the  others  being  at  the  same  time  removed 
by  the  guard. 

After  the  nooses  were  adjusted,  the  chief  of  the  Com- 
mittee said  to  the  prisoners, 

"  You  are  now  about  to  be  executed.  If  you  have  any 
dying  requests  to  make,  this  is  your  last  opportunity.  You 
may  be  assured  they  shall  be  carefully  heeded." 

Jack  Gallagher  broke  in  upon  this  address  with  a  leer, 


.•58G   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

"  How  do  I  look,  boys,"  he  asked,  '*  with  a  halter  around 
my  neck?  "     The  grim  effort  failed  to  elicit  a  smile. 

"  Your  time  is  very  short,"  said  the  chief,  again  remind- 
ing tliem  that  their  requests  would  be  listened  to, 

"  Well,  then,"  said  Gallagher,  ''  1  want  one  more  drink 
of  whiskey  before  I  die." 

The  loathing  which  this  request  excited  was  apparent  in 
the  expression  of  the  countenances  of  all  who  heard  it. 
Some  men  exchanged  meaning  glances,  revealing  thereby 
the  shock  their  sensibilities  had  received  by  this  exhibition 
of  depravity.  Others  craned  their  necks  over  the  crowd, 
as  if  they  had  not  heard  aright.  For  a  few  minutes  no 
one  seemed  to  know  what  answer  to  make  to  a  man  whose 
last  moments  were  given  to  the  gratification  of  his  evil 
appetites.  This  silence  was  soon  broken,  however,  by  an 
old  miner. 

"  We  told  'em,"  said  he,  "  that  we  'd  do  whatever  they 
asked.     Give  him  the  liquor," 

A  man  appeared  in  a  moment  witii  a  tumbler  nearly  full. 
Raising  it  as  high  as  he  could,  the  prisoner  bent  his  head, 
but  was  restrained  by  the  rope  from  touching  the  glass 
with  his  lips.  Throwing  his  head  back,  he  turned  on  the 
box,  and,  looking  back  upon  the  fastenings  of  the  rope  to 
the  basement  log  at  the  rear  of  the  building,  in  a  loud  and 
imperious  tone  he  launched  a  profane  and  vulgar  epithet 
at  the  guard,  saying, 

"  Slacken  that  rope,  (juick.  and  let  a  man  take  a  parting 
drink,  won't  you?  " 

The  rope  was  loosed,  while  the  depraved  wretch  drained 
the  tumbler  at  a  draught.  While  the  guard  was  refastcn- 
ing  it,  he  exclaimed, 

"  I  hope  Almighty  God  will  strike  every  one  of  you  with 
forked  lightning  and  that  I  shall  meet  you  all  in  the  lowest 
pit  of  hell." 

The  C'onnnittee   decided   that    the   executions    should    be 


I 


VIRGINIA  CITY  EXECUTIONS    387 

single,  connnoncing  witli  Clubfoot  George,  and  conclud- 
ing with  Hayes  Lyons,  who  stood  next  to  him  in  order. 
At  the  words  '*  Men,  do  your  duty,"  the  men  holding  the 
cords  attached  to  the  box  on  which  the  prisoner  in  turn 
stood,  were,  by  a  sudden  jerk,  to  pull  the  footing  from 
under  him.  A  fall  of  three  feet  was  deemed  sufficient  to 
dislocate  the  neck,  and  avoid  the  torture  of  protracted 
strangulation. 

No  more  requests  being  made,  the  men  laid  hold  of  the 
coi'ds  attached  to  the  box  occupied  by  George  Lane.  Just 
at  that  moment  the  unhappy  wretch  descried  an  old  friend 
clinging  to  the  building,  to  obtain  sight  of  the  execution. 

"  Good-bye,  old  fellow,"  said  he.  "  I  'm  gone,"  and,  with- 
out waiting  for  the  box  to  be  removed,  he  leaped  from  it, 
and  died  with  hardly  a  struggle. 

"  There  goes  one  to  hell,"  muttered  Boone  Helm. 

Hayes  Lyons,  who  stood  next,  was  talking  all  the  while, 
telling  of  his  kind  mother ;  that  he  had  been  well  brought 
up,  but  evil  associations  had  brought  him  to  the  scaffold, 

Gallagher  cried  and  swore  by  turns. 

"  I  hope,"  said  he,  "  that  forked  lightning  will  strike 
every  strangling  villain  of  you."  The  box,  flying  from 
under  his  feet,  stopped  an  oath  in  its  utterance,  and  the 
quivering  of  his  muscles  showed  that  his  guilty  career  was 
terminated. 

"  Kick  aAvay,  old  fellow,"  said  Boone  Helm,  calmly  sur- 
veying the  struggles  of  the  dying  wretch.  "  My  turn  comes 
next.  I  '11  be  in  hell  with  you  in  a  minute."  Shouting  in 
a  loud  voice,  "  Every  man  for  his  principles !  Hurrah  for 
Jeff  Davis !  Let  her  rip,"  his  body  fell  with  a  twang  that 
killed  him  almost  instantly. 

Frank  Parish  maintained  a  serious  deportment  from  the 
moment  of  his  arrest  until  his  execution.  At  his  request 
his  black  necktie  was  dropped  like  a  veil  over  his  face.  He 
"  died  and  made  no  sign." 


388   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

Hayes  Lyons  was  tlie  only  one  remaining.  Looking  right 
and  left  at  the  swaying  bodies  of  his  companions,  his  anx- 
ious face  indicated  a  hope  of  pardon.  His  entreaties  were 
incessant,  but  when  he  found  them  unavailing,  he  requested 
that  his  mistress  might  have  the  disposition  of  his  body ; 
that  the  watch  of  hers  which  he  wore  might  be  restored  to 
her,  and  that  he  might  not  be  left  hanging  for  an  unseemly 
time.     He  died  without  a  struggle. 

Two  hours  after  the  execution  the  bodies  were  cut  down, 
and  taken  by  friends  to  Cemetery  Hill  for  burial. 

X.  Beidler  officiated  as  adjuster  of  the  ropes  at  this  exe- 
cution. Jack  Gallagher  had  killed  a  friend  of  his.  Some 
time  afterwards,  when  he  was  relating  the  circumstances 
attending  the  execution,  in  a  mixed  crowd,  a  gentleman 
present,  who  was  greatly  interested  in  the  narrative,  and 
whose  sympathy  for  the  ruffians  was  very  apparent,  asked, 
at  the  close  of  the  narrative,  in  a  lachrymose  tone, 

"  Well,  now,  when  30U  came  to  hang  that  poor  fellow, 
did  n't  you  sympathize  with  him,  did  n't  you  feel  for  him.'  " 

Beidler  regarded  the  man  for  a  moment  with  great  dis- 
gust, and,  imitating  his  tone,  replied  slowly, 

"  Yes,  I  did.  I  felt  for  him  a  little,  I  Velt  for  his  left 
ear." 


CHAPTER  XXXIX 

PURSUIT  OF  ROAD  AGENTS 

THE  work  so  well  begun  was  prosecuted  with  great 
energy.  The  ruffians  had  fled  from  Virginia  City 
and  Bannack,  over  the  range  to  Deer  Lodge  and  Bitter 
Root,  intending  gradually  to  return  to  their  old  haunts  in 
Idaho.  The  Vigilantes,  resolved  that  they  should  not  es- 
cape, took  up  the  pursuit.  A  company  of  twenty-one,  un- 
der the  command  of  a  competent  leader,  left  Nevada  on  the 
fifteenth  of  January.  Arriving  at  Big  Hole  in  the  even- 
ing, they  sent  a  detachment  to  Clark's  ranche  to  arrest  the 
bandit  Steve  Marshland,  who  was  laid  up  with  frozen  feet, 
and  the  wound  which  he  had  received  in  the  breast  while  at- 
tacking jNIoody's  train.  Receiving  no  response  to  their 
repeated  raps  at  the  door  of  the  cabin,  one  of  the  party 
entered,  and,  lighting  a  wisp  of  straw,  found  Marshland 
in  bed. 

"  Hands  up,  if  you  please,"  said  he,  pointing  his  re- 
volver at  the  head  of  the  prostrate  robber,  who  obeyed  the 
command  as  well  as  circumstances  would  admit. 

"Are  you  sick,  Steve?  "  queried  the  Vigilante. 

*'  Yes  —  very,"  faintly  responded  Marshland. 

"  No  one  with  you  ?  " 

"  No  one, —  no  living  thing  but  the  dog." 

"What  is  the  matter?" 

"  I  've  got  the  chills." 

*'  Strange !  New  kind  of  sickness  for  winter !  Nothing 
else  the  matter?  " 

"  Yes.  I  froze  my  feet  while  prospecting  at  the  head 
of  Rattlesnake  Creek." 

389 


390   VIGILANTE  DxiVS  AND  WAYS 

"  Did  you  raise  the  color?  " 

"  No.    The  water  prevented  me  from  going  to  hed-rock." 

While  this  conversation  was  in  progress,  the  party  had 
built  a  fire  and  commenced  cooking  supper.  Kemoving 
from  beside  tlie  bed  two  double-barrelled  shotguns,  a  yager, 
and  another  rifle,  they  invited  Marshland  to  get  up  and  take 
supper  with  them.  During  the  meal  all  engaged  in  merry 
conversation.  After  it  was  over,  the  leader  informed 
Marshland  that  he  was  arrested  for  the  robbery  of  Moody's 
train. 

"  You  received,"  said  he,  "  while  engaged  in  that  rob- 
bery, a  bullet  wound  in  the  breast,  by  which  we  shall  be 
able  to  identify  you." 

"  I  received  no  such  wound,"  said  he;  and,  striking  his 
breast  several  times,  he  continued,  "  My  breast  is  as  sound 
as  a  dollar." 

"  You  can  have  no  objection,  then,  to  submitting  to  our 
examination." 

"  None  in  the  least,  gentlemen.     Look  for  yourselves." 

The  leader  threw  open  Marshland's  shirt.  The  mark 
of  the  recent  wound  confirmed  the  guilt  of  the  robber.  He 
could  give  no  explanation  of  the  manner  in  which  he 
received  it. 

"  The  evidence  is  satisfactory  to  us,"  said  the  leader. 
"  We  have  made  no  mistake  in  arresting  you.  You  must 
die." 

"  For  God's  sake,  do  not  hang  me.  Let  me  go,  and  I 
will  trouble  you  no  more." 

"  It  cannot  be.  We  shall  certainly  execute  every  one 
of  Plummer's  infamous  band  that  falls  into  our  hands, 
and  we  hope  to  catch  them  all." 

Finding  importunity  of  no  avail,  he  made  a  full  anti 
frank  confession  of  all  his  crimes.  A  scaffold  was  impro- 
vised by  sticking  into  the  ground  a  pole,  the  end  of  wjiich 
projected  over  the  corral  fence,  upon  which  the  pole  rested. 


I 


PURSUIT  OF  KOAD  AGENTS     391 

A  box  taken  from  the  cabin  was  placed  under  it,  for  the 
prisoner  to  stand  upon.  When  all  was  ready,  and  the 
fatal  noose  was  adjusted,  the  prisoner  once  more  appealed 
to  his  captors. 

"  Have  mercy  on  me  for  my  youth !  "  he  exclaimed. 

"  You  should  have  thought  of  it  before,"  replied  the 
leader,  as  he  gave  the  fatal  order,  and  the  poor  wretch  was 
launched  into  eternity. 

The  scent  of  his  frozen  feet  attracted  the  wolves,  and  the 
party  were  obliged  to  watch  both  him  and  the  horses,  to 
prevent  an  attack  by  these  animals.  He  was  buried  near 
the  place  of  execution.  The  detachment  found  the  main 
party  the  next  morning,  having  been  absent  only  one  night. 

The  Vigilantes  resumed  their  march,  beginning  at  this 
point  the  ascent  of  the  Deer  Lodge  divide.  Not  knowing 
how  soon  or  where  they  might  overtake  others  of  the  gang, 
they  rode  forward  in  double  file  at  the  rate  of  sixty  miles 
a  day.  They  divided  their  company  into  four  messes,  each 
of  which  being  supplied  plentifully  with  food  already 
cooked,  they  lighted  no  large  campfires,  lest  the  smoke 
therefrom  should  betray  them.  A  double  watch  was  kept 
over  the  horses  while  in  camp.  Each  man  was  armed  with 
at  least  one,  some  with  two,  revolvers,  and  a  shotgun  or 
rifle.  While  on  the  march,  the  captain  was  in  the  van. 
After  they  descended  into  the  valley  of  Deer  Lodge,  a  spy 
was  sent  forward  to  reconnoitre  the  town  of  Cottonwood, 
with  instructions  to  meet  the  party  at  Cottonwood  Creek, 

At  four  o'clock  p.m.  they  halted  at  Smith's  ranche,  seven- 
teen miles  from  Cottonwood,  until  after  dark,  when  they 
rode  cautiously  forward  until  within  a  short  distance  of 
the  town.  Learning  from  their  spy  that  all  the  robbers  ex- 
cept Bunton  and  "  Tex  "  had  gone,  they  rode  hastily  into 
the  town  and  surrounded  the  saloon  of  the  former.  Bun- 
ton  refused  to  open  the  door.  Three  men  detailed  to  ar- 
rest him  called  to  him  and  expressed  a  wish  to  see  him. 


392   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

He  persisted  in  denying  them  admittance,  until  convinced 
that  they  would  effect  an  entrance  by  force;  and  he  then 
told  a  ni.in  and  boy  in  his  employ  to  let  them  in.  The  door 
was  opened,  but,  as  the  lights  within  had  been  extinguished, 
the  men  declined  to  enter  until  a  candle  was  lighted.  As 
soon  as  light  was  furnished,  they  rushed  in,  and  the  leader 
exclaimed, 

"  Bill,  you  are  my  prisoner !  " 

"For  what.''"  inquired  Bunton. 

"  Come  with  us  at  once,  and  you  '11  find  out." 

Observing  that  he  made  signs  of  resistance,  a  Vigilante, 
whose  courage  exceeded  his  strength,  seized  the  ruffian  and 
attempted  to  drag  him  out.  Finding  himself  overmatched, 
he  called  to  his  assistance  a  comrade,  who  soon  succeeded 
in  binding  the  hands  of  the  desperado  behind  him.  In  this 
condition  he  was  conducted  by  a  guard  to  the  cabin  of 
Peter  Martin. 

"  Tex,"  who  was  in  the  saloon,  was  conquered  in  much 
the  same  manner,  and  forced  to  follow  his  companion. 

Martin,  who  knew  nothing  of  the  arrest,  was  seated  at 
a  table  playing  a  game  at  cards  with  some  friends.  Hear- 
ing that  the  Vigilantes  were  surrounding  his  house,  he 
dropped  his  cards,  and  started  with  great  affright  for  the 
door.  For  a  long  time  he  refused  to  obey  their  summons 
to  come  out,  but,  on  being  assured  that  he  "  was  n't  charged 
with  nothin',"  he  opened  the  door  and  returned  to  his  game. 

After  breakfast  the  next  morning  a  person  who  had  been 
conversing  with  Bunton  informed  the  \'igilantes  that  he 
had  said  to  him  that  \\v  would  "  get  one  of  them  yet,"  on 
learning  whereof  they  searched  him  a  second  time.  They 
found  a  derringer  in  his  vest-pocket,  which  had  evidently 
been  placed  there  by  some  sympathizer  during  the  night. 

Bunton  refused  to  make  any  answer  to  the  charges  made 
against  him.  No  doubt  was  entertained  of  his  guilt.  The 
vote  on  his  case,  taken  by  the  uplifted  hand,  was  unanimous 
for  his  execution.     The  captain  informed  him  of  it. 


PURSUIT  OF  ROAD  AGENTS     393 

"  If  you  have  any  business  to  attend  to,  3'ou  had  better 
intrust  it  to  some  one,  as  we  cannot  be  delayed  here." 

Bunton  inniiediately  gave  his  gold  watch  to  his  partner 
Cooke,  and  appropriated  his  other  property  to  the  pay- 
ment of  his  debts.  He  had  gambled  for  and  won  the 
interest  in  the  saloon  from  its  former  owner  a  fortnight 
before  this  time.  Having  thus  disposed  of  his  affairs,  he 
was  conducted  to  the  gate  of  a  corral  near,  surmounted  by 
a  gallows-frame,  beneath  which  a  board  laid  upon  two  boxes 
served  the  purpose  of  a  drop.  While  the  hangman  was 
adjusting  the  rope,  he  gave  him  particular  instructions 
about  the  exact  situation  of  the  knot.  This  being  fixed  to 
suit  him,  he  said  to  the  captain, 

"  May  I  jump  off  myself?  " 

"  You  can  if  you  wish,"  was  the  reply. 

"  I  care  no  more  for  hanging,"  said  Bunton,  "  than  I 
do  for  taking  a  drink  of  water ;  but  I  should  like  to  have 
my  neck  broken." 

On  being  asked  if  he  had  anything  further  to  say,  he 
replied, 

"  Nothing,  except  that  I  have  done  nothing  to  deserve 
death.  I  am  innocent.  All  I  want  is  a  mountain  three  hun- 
dred feet  high  to  jump  from.  And  now  I  will  give  you  the 
time ;  one  —  two  —  three."  The  men  were  prepared  to  pull 
the  plank  from  under  him  should  he  fail  to  jump,  but  he 
anticipated  them,  and,  adding  the  words,  "  Here  goes," 
he  leaped  and  fell  with  a  loud  thud,  dying  without  a 
struggle. 

"  Tex  "  was  separately  tried.  The  evidence  being  in- 
sufficient to  convict  him,  he  was  liberated,  and  left  imme- 
diately for  the  Kootenai  mines. 

Mrs.  Demorest,  the  wife  of  the  owner  of  the  corral,  was 
so  greatly  outraged  by  the  use  made  of  the  gate  frame 
that  she  gave  her  husband  no  peace  until  the  poles  were 
cut  down,  and  the  frame  entirely  unfitted  for  further  use 
as  a  gallows. 


304   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  AVAYS 

After  the  execution  of  Bunton,  the  Vigilantes,  In  com- 
pany with  Jcnuny  Allen,  a  ranchcman,  left  Cottonwood  for 
Hell  Gate,  a  little  settlement  ninety  miles  down  the  river, 
in  the  vicinity  of  Bitter  Root  Valley.  Snow  covered  the 
ground  to  the  depth  of  two  feet,  and  the  weather  was  in- 
tensely cold.  It  was  after  dark  when  the  company  ar- 
rived at  one  of  the  crossings  of  the  Deer  Lodge.  The 
river,  being  a  rapid  mountain  stream,  seldom  freezes  suf- 
ficiently solid  to  bear  a  horseman ;  but,  no  other  mode  of 
transit  presenting  itself,  the  ^'igilantes  drove  hurriedly 
upon  the  frozen  surface,  and,  before  they  were  half-way 
across,  the  ice  gave  way,  precipitating  their  horses  into 
the  water.  Had  the  stream  been  wide,  all  must  have  per- 
cM  ished.  As  it  was,  after  muj//  floundering  and  considerable 
exertion,  all  were  landed  safely  on  the  opposite  bank.  One 
of  the  party  barely  escaped  drowning,  and  his  horse  was 
dragged  from  the  stream  by  a  lariat  around  his  neck.  At 
eleven  o'clock  the  company  arrived  at  Allen's  ranche,  where 
they  passed  the  remainder  of  the  night  in  blankets. 

The  next  day,  accompanied  by  Charles  Eaton,  who  was 
familiar  with  the  country,  they  rode  on  in  the  direction  of 
Hell  Gate,  but,  owing  to  the  great  depth  of  the  snow,  pro- 
gressed only  fifteen  miles.  They  made  a  camp  in  the  snow. 
Their  horses,  being  accustomed  to  the  mountains,  pawed 
in  the  snow  to  find  the  bunch-grass.  The  ride  of  the  fol- 
lowing day  terminated  at  the  workmen's  quarters  on  the 
Mullen  wagon-road.  One  of  the  ponies  broke  his  leg  by 
stepping  into  a  badger  hole  while  they  were  going  into 
camp,  and  another,  by  a  similar  accident,  stripped  the 
skin  from  his  liindlegs.  They  were  obliged  to  shoot  the 
former,  and  turn  the  latter  loose  to  await  their  return. 

The  troop  were  in  their  saddles  at  daylight,  on  the  route 
to  the  settlement,  which  they  approached  to  within  six  miles, 
and  went  into  camp  until  after  nightfall.  Then  they  re- 
sumed tluir  ride,  stopping  a  short  distance  outside  of  the 


PURSUIT  OF  ROAD  AGENTS     395 

town.  The  scout  tlic}'  liad  sent  to  reconnoitre  brought 
them  Jill  needful  information,  and,  mounting  their  horses, 
they  entered  the  town  on  a  keen  run.  Skinner  was  stand- 
ing in  the  doorway  of  his  saloon,  when  they  rode  up,  sur- 
rounded the  building,  and  ordered  him  to  "  throw  up  his 
hands." 

"  You  nmst  have  learned  that  from  the  Bannack  stage 
folks,"  said  his  chere  amie,  Nelly,  who  was  an  observer  of 
the  scene. 

Two  men  dismounted,  and,  seizing  Skinner,  bound  him 
immediately.  Meantime  two  or  three  Vigilantes  threw  open 
the  door  of  Miller's  cabin,  which  was  next  to  Skinner's, 
and  Dan  Harding,  the  foremost  among  them,  levelling  his 
gun,  shouted  to  some  person  lying  upon  a  lounge, 

"Alex,  is  that  you?" 

"  Yes,"  replied  the  man,  "  what  do  you  want.^^  " 

"  We  want  you,"  was  the  reply,  as  the  men  rushed  in, 
took  his  pistol,  and  bound  the  robber  before  he  was  thor- 
oughly aroused  from  sleep. 

"  These  are  rather  tight  papers  —  ain't  they,  boys  .'*  " 
said  Carter.  "  Give  me  something  to  smoke  and  tell  me 
the  news."  On  being  told  the  names  of  those  who  had  been 
executed,  he  quietly  remarked, 

"  That 's  all  right ;  not  an  innocent  man  hung  yet." 

He  and  Skinner  were  conducted  down  to  Higgins's  store, 
and  their  examination  immediately  commenced.  Three 
hours  were  occupied  in  the  investigation,  during  which  Nelly 
came  down,  with  the  intention  of  interfering  in  Skinner's 
behalf.  She  was  sent  home  under  guard ;  and  her  escort, 
on  searching  her  premises,  found  Johnny  Cooper  pros- 
trated by  three  pistol  shots,  received  in  a  quarrel  with 
Carter  the  previous  day,  but  for  which  it  had  been  the  in- 
tention of  Carter  and  Cooper  to  leave  for  Kootenai.  The 
baggage  and  provisions  they  had  procured  for  the  journey, 
worth  a  hundred  and  thirty  dollars,  together  with  the  pack- 


396   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

animal,  were  taken  for  tlic  use  of  the  expedition,  and  were 
paid  for  by  M.  W.  Tipton,  whom  Carter  and  Cooper  had 
persuaded  to  become  their  surety  for  the  amount. 

During  the  trial  of  Carter,  he  confessed  his  complicity 
as  accessory,  both  before  and  after  the  fact,  to  the  mur- 
der of  Tiebalt.  It  was  proven  also  that  he  was  concerned 
in  the  coach  robbery.  Skinner  made  no  confession,  nor 
was  it  necessary,  as  his  criminal  character  and  acts  were 
susceptible  of  abundant  proof. 

Cooper  was  tried  separately.  He  was  one  of  the  lieu- 
tenants of  the  band.  A  Vigilante  by  the  name  of  Presi- 
dent testified  to  Cooper's  having  murdered  a  man  in 
Idaho,  for  which  he  was  arrested  by  the  people.  While 
being  conducted  to  the  place  of  trial,  he  broke  from  his 
captors,  leaped  with  a  bound  upon  a  horse  standing  near, 
and,  amid  a  hundred  shots,  escaped  uninjured,  and  came 
to  Montana. 

On  the  evening  of  the  day  these  trials  were  in  progress, 
a  detachment  of  eight  men  left  Hell  Gate  in  pursuit  of 
Bob  Zachary,  whom  they  found  seated  in  bed,  in  the  cabin 
of  Hon.  Barney  O'Keefe,  known  throughout  Bitter  Root 
Valley  as  "  the  Baron."  One  of  the  party,  on  entering, 
pushed  him  over,  upon  his  back,  taking  from  him,  at  the 
same  time,  his  pistol  and  knife.  While  on  their  return  with 
him  to  Hell  Gate,  O'Keefe  unintentionally  mentioned  that 
a  stranger  was  stopping  at  Van  Dorn's  cabin,  in  the  Bit- 
ter Root  Valley.  A  company  of  three  Vigilantes,  sus- 
pecting by  the  description  given  that  he  was  none  other 
than  George  Shears,  another  of  the  band,  started  at  once 
in  pursuit. 

Riding  up  in  front  of  the  cabin,  Thomas  Pitt,  their 
loader,  inquired  of  the  man  who  met  them  at  the  door,  if 
George  Shears  was  in. 

"  Yes,"  said  Van  Dorn,     "  He  is  in  the  inner  room." 

"  An^'  objection  to  our  entering?"  inquired  Pitt. 


A    VIGILANTE    liXECLilO.N 


PURSUIT  OF  ROAD  AGENTS     397 

Van  Dorn  replied  by  opening  the  door  of  the  room,  where 
George  was  discovered,  knife  in  hand.  He  surrendered 
without  resistance,  astonishing  his  captors  by  the  utter  in- 
difference he  manifested  to  the  near  approach  of  death. 
Walking  with  Pitt  to  the  corral,  he  designated  the  horses 
he  had  stolen,  and  confessed  his  guilt. 

"  I  knew,"  said  he,  "  I  should  have  to  come  to  this  some- 
time, but  I  thought  I  could  run  another  season." 

"  There  is  no  help  for  j'ou,  George,"  said  Pitt.  "  You 
must  suffer  the  same  fate  as  your  companions  in  crime." 

"  I  suppose  I  should  be  satisfied,"  replied  the  ruffian, 
"  that  it  is  no  worse." 

He  was  conducted  to  the  barn,  where,  a  rope  being  cast 
over  a  beam,  he  was  requested,  in  order  to  save  the  trou- 
ble of  procuring  a  drop,  to  ascend  the  ladder.  He  com- 
plied without  the  least  reluctance.  After  the  preparations 
were  completed,  he  said  to  his  captors, 

"  Gentlemen,  I  am  not  used  to  this  business,  never  hav- 
ing been  hung  before.     Shall  I  jump  off,  or  slide  off?  " 

"  Jump  off,  of  course,"  was  the  reply. 

"  All  right,"  he  exclaimed,  "  good-bye !  "  and  leaped 
from  the  ladder,  with  the  utmost  sang  froid.  The  drop  was 
long,  and  the  rope  tender.  As  the  strands  untwisted, 
they  parted,  until  finally  one  alone  remained. 

Soon  after  the  party  which  captured  Zachary  and  Shears 
had  left  Hell  Gate,  intelligence  was  received  there  that 
William  Graves  (Whiskey  Bill)  was  at  Fort  Owen  in  the 
Bitter  Root  Valley.  Three  men  were  sent  immediately  to 
arrest  and  execute  him.  He  was  armed  and  on  the  look- 
out, and  had  repeatedly  sworn  that  he  would  shoot  any 
Vigilante  that  came  in  his  way.  The  party  was  too  wary 
for  him.  He  was  first  made  aware  of  their  presence,  by  a 
stern  command  to  surrender,  and  a  pistol  at  his  heart.  He 
made  no  resistance,  and  refused  all  confession.  A  rope  was 
tied  to  the  convenient  limb  of  a  tree,  and  the  drop  extcm- 


398   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

porized  by  placing  the  culprit  astride  of  a  strong  horse, 
bcl)ind  a  Vigilnnte.  When  fill  was  ready,  the  rider,  ex- 
claiming '*  Good-bye,  Bill,"  plunged  the  rowels  into  the 
sides  of  the  liorse,  which  leaped  madly  forward;  the  fatal 
noose  swept  the  robber  from  his  scat,  breaking  his  neck 
by  the  shock,  and  killing  him  instantly. 

In  the  meantime,  the  trials  of  Carter,  Skinner,  and 
Cooper  had  resulted  in  the  conviction  of  those  ruffians,  and 
they  were  severally  condenmed  to  die.  Scaffolds  were 
hastily  prepared  by  placing  poles  over  the  fence  of  Hig- 
gins*s  corral.  Carter  and  Skinner  were  conducted  to 
execution  by  torchliglit,  a  little  after  the  midnight  succeed- 
ing their  trial.  Dry-goods  boxes  were  used  for  drops.  On 
their  march  to  the  place  of  execution,  Skinner  suddenly 
broke  from  his  guard,  and  ran  off,  shouting,  "Shoot! 
Shoot !  "  Not  a  gun  was  raised,  but  after  a  short  chase  in 
the  snow  the  prisoner  was  secured,  and  led  up  to  the  scaf- 
fold. He  made  a  second  attempt  to  get  away  while  stand- 
ing on  the  box,  but  a  rope  was  soon  adjusted  to  his  neck, 
and  the  leader  said  to  him, 

"  You  may  jump  now,  as  soon  as  you  please."  Carter 
manifested  great  disgust  at  Skinner's  attempt  to  run  away. 
While  he  was  standing  on  the  drop,  one  of  the  Vigilantes 
requested  him  to  confess  that  he  liad  participated  in  the 
murder  of  Tiebalt. 

"  If  I  had  my  hands  free,"  he  replied  with  an  oath,  "  I  'd 
make  you  take  that  back." 

Skinner,  who  stood  by  his  side,  was  talking  violently  atn 
the  time,  and  Carter  was  ordered  to  be  quiet. 

"  Well,  then,  let  's  have  a  smoke,"  said  he;  and,  a  lighted 
pipe  being  given  him,  he  remained  quiet.  Both  criminals, 
as  they  were  launched  from  the  platform,  exclaimed,  "  I 
am  innocent" — the  password  of  the  band.  They  died 
apparently  without  pain. 

The  party  that  arrested  Zachary  arrived  with  him  the 


1 


PURSUIT  OF  ROAD  AGENTS     399 

next  morning.  He  was  tried  and  found  guilty.  By  his 
directions  a  letter  was  written  to  his  mother,  in  which  he 
warned  his  brothers  and  sisters  to  avoid  drinking,  card- 
playing,  and  bad  company  —  three  evils  which,  he  said,  had 
brought  him  to  the  gallows.  On  the  scaffold  he  prayed  that 
God  would  forgive  the  Vigilantes  for  what  they  were  doing, 
as  it  was  the  only  way  to  clear  the  country  of  road  agents. 
He  died  without  apparent  fear  or  suffering. 

Johnny  Cooper  was  drawn  to  the  scaffold  in  a  sleigh,  his 
wounded  leg  rendering  him  unable  to  ^valk.  He  asked  for 
his  pipe. 

"  I  want,"  said  he,  "  a  good  smoke  before  I  die.  I  al- 
ways did  enjoy  a  smoke."  A  letter  had  been  written  to  his 
parents,  who  lived  in  the  State  of  New  York.  Several 
times,  while  a  Vigilante  was  engaged  in  adjusting  the  rope, 
he  dodged  the  noose,  but,  on  being  told  to  keep  his  head 
straight,  he  submitted.     He  died  without  a  struggle. 

Having  finished  their  mission,  the  Vigilantes  returned  to 
Nevada. 


CHAPTER  XL 

EXECUTION  OF  HUNTER 

SOON  after  tho  transactions  recorded  in  the  last  chap- 
ter,  the  Virginia  City  Vigilantes  were  informed  that 
Bill  Hunter  had  been  seen  in  the  Gallatin  Valley.  It  was 
reported  that  he  sought  a  covert  among  the  rocks  and 
brush,  where  he  remained  during  the  day,  stealing  out  at 
night  and  seeking  food  among  the  scattered  settlers,  as 
he  could  find  it.  His  place  of  concealment  was  about 
twent}'  miles  from  the  mouth  of  the  Gallatin  River.  A 
number  of  the  Vigilantes,  under  the  pretence  of  joining 
the  Barney  Hughes  stampede  to  a  new  placer  discovery, 
left  \'irginia  City,  and  scoured  the  country  for  a  distance 
of  sixty  miles  or  more,  in  search  of  the  missing  ruffian. 
Hunter  was  discovered  during  this  search. 

x\s  soon  as  it  became  known  that  he  was  at  the  spot  in- 
dicated, four  resolute  men  at  once  volunteered  to  go  in 
pursuit  of,  capture,  and  execute  him.  Their  route  lay 
across  two  heavy  divides,  and  required  about  sixty  miles 
of  hurried  travelling.  The  first  day  they  crossed  the  di- 
vide between  the  Pas-sam-a-ri  and  the  Madison,  camping 
that  night  on  the  bank  of  the  latter  river,  which  they  had 
forded  with  great  difficulty.  The  weather  was  intensely 
cold,  and  their  blankets  afforded  but  feeble  protection 
against  it.  They  built  a  large  camp-fire,  and  lay  down  as 
near  to  it  as  safety  would  permit.  One  of  their  number 
spread  his  blankets  on  the  slope  of  a  little  hillock  next  the 
fire,  and  during  the  night  slipped  down  until  his  feet  en- 
countered the  hot  embers.    The  weather  increased  in  sevcr- 

400 


EXECUTION  OF  HUNTER        401 

ity  the  next  day,  during  most  of  which  the  Vigilantes  rode 
througli  a  fierce  mountain  snow-storm,  with  the  wind  di- 
rectly in  their  faces.  At  two  o'clock  p.m.  they  halted  for 
supper  at  the  Milk  ranche,  about  twenty  miles  from  the 
place  where  they  expected  to  find  the  fugitive.  Under  the 
guidance  of  a  man  whom  they  employed  here,  they  then 
pushed  on  at  a  rapid  pace,  the  storm  gathering  in  fury  as 
they  progressed.  At  midnight  they  drew  up  near  a  lone 
cabin  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  rocky  jungle  where  their 
game  had  taken  cover. 

"  This  storm  has  certainly  routed  him,"  said  one  of  the 
Vigilantes.    "  Ten  to  one,  we  bag  him  in  the  cabin." 

"  Very  likely,"  replied  another.  "  He  would  not  suspect 
danger  in  such  Aveather.    It  will  save  us  a  heap  of  trouble." 

One  of  the  men  rapped  loudly  at  the  cabin  door.  Open- 
ing it  slowly,  a  look  of  amazement  stole  over  the  features 
of  the  inmate,  as  he  surveyed  the  company  of  six  mounted 
armed  men. 

"  Good-evening,"  said  one,  saluting  him. 

"  Don't  know  whether  it  is  or  not,"  growled  the  man,  evi- 
dently suspicious  that  a  visit  at  so  late  an  hour  meant  mis- 
chief. 

"  Build  us  a  fire,  man,"  said  the  Vigilante.  "  We  are 
nearly  frozen,  and  this  is  the  only  place  of  shelter  from 
this  storm  for  many  miles.  Surely  you  won't  play  the 
churl  to  a  party  of  weather-bound  prospectors." 

Reassured  by  this  hearty  reproof  for  his  seeming  un- 
kindness,  the  man  set  to  work  with  a  will,  and  in  a  few 
moments  a  genial  fire  was  blazing  on  the  hearth,  which  the 
party  enjoyed  thoroughly.  Glancing  curiously  around 
the  little  room,  the  Vigilantes  discovered  that  it  contained 
three  occupants  besides  themselves.  Placing  their  guns 
and  pistols  in  convenient  position,  and  stationing  a  senti- 
nel to  keep  watch  and  feed  the  fire,  the  men  spread  their 
blankets  on  the  clay  surface  of  the  enclosure,  and  in  a  few 


402   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 


moments  were  locked  in  sleep;  careful,  however,  first,  to 
satisfy  the  eager  curiosity'  of  their  entertainers,  by  a  brief 
conversation  about  mining,  stampeding,  prospecting,  etc., 
and  leading  them  to  believe  that  they  were  a  party  of  min- 
ers, returning  from  an  unsuccessful  expedition. 

Fatigued  with  the  ride  and  exposure  of  the  two  previous 
days,  the  \'igilantes  slept  until  a  late  hour  the  next  morn- 
ing. Two  of  tlie  occupants  of  the  cabin  rose  at  the  same 
time.  The  other,  entirely  enveloped  in  blankets,  kept  up  a 
prolonged  snore,  whose  deep  bass  signified  that  he  was 
wrapped  in  profound  slumber.  The  Vigilantes,  contriving 
to  keep  four  of  their  number  in  the  cabin,  while  making 
preparations  to  depart,  soon  had  their  horses  saddled; 
but  when  all  was  ready,  one  of  them  inquired  in  a  careless 
tone, 

"  Who  is  the  man  that  sleeps  so  soundly.''  " 

"  I  don't  know  him,"  said  the  host. 

"  When  did  he  come  here?  " 

"  At  the  beginning  of  the  snow-storm,  two  days  ago.  He 
came  in  and  asked  permission  to  remain  here  until  it  was 
over." 

"  Perhaps  it  's  an  acquaintance.  Won't  you  describe 
liim  to  us?  " 

The  man  complied,  by  giving  a  most  accurate  descrip- 
tion of  Hunter.  No  longer  in  doubt,  the  Vigilante  went 
up  to  the  bedside,  and,  in  a  loud  voice,  called  out,  "  Bill 
Hunter !  " 

Hastily  drawing  the  blanket  from  his  face,  the  occupant 
stared  wildly  out  upon  the  six  armed  men,  asking  in  the 
same  breath, 

"  Who  's  there?  " 

Six  shotguns  levelled  at  his  head  answered  the  (juestion. 

"  Give  us  your  revolver,  and  get  up,"  was  the  conunand. 
Hunter  instantly  complied. 

"  You  are  arrested  as  one  of  Plunniier's  hniid  of  road 
agents." 


EXECUTION  OF  HUNTER        403 

"  I  Iicpe,"  said  Hunter,  "  jou  will  take  me  to  Virginia 
City."     A  Vigilante  assented. 

*'  What  conveyance  have  you  for  nie.''  " 

"  There,"  said  one,  pointing  to  a  horse,  "  is  the  animal 
you  must  ride." 

The  prisoner  put  on  his  hat  and  overcoat,  and  mounted 
the  horse.  Just  as  he  was  about  to  seize  the  reins,  a  Vig- 
ilante took  them  from  his  hands,  saying,  with  affected 
suavity, 

"  If  you  please,  I  '11  manage  these  for  you.  You  've  only 
to  sit  still  and  ride." 

After  the  company  started,  the  robber  cast  a  suspicious 
glance  behind  him,  and  saw  one  man  following  on  foot.  His 
countenance  fell.  The  expression  told,  in  stronger  lan- 
guage than  words,  that  the  thought  which  harassed  him 
was  that  he  would  not  be  taken  to  Virginia  City.  About 
two  miles  distant  from  the  cabin,  the  company  drew  up 
and  dismounted  under  a  solitary  tree.  Scraping  away  the 
snow,  they  kindled  a  fire,  and  prepared  their  breakfast,  of 
which  the  robber  partook  with  them,  and  seemed  to  forget 
his  fears,  and  laughed  and  joked  as  if  no  danger  were  nigh. 
Breakfast  over,  the  Vigilantes  held  a  brief  consultation  as 
to  the  disposition  which  should  be  made  of  their  prisoner. 
On  putting  the  question  to  vote,  it  was  decided  by  the  votes 
of  all  but  the  person  who  had  signified  to  Hunter  that  he 
was  to  be  taken  to  Virginia  City,  that  his  execution  should 
take  place  instantly. 

The  condemned  wretch  turned  deadly  pale,  and  in  a 
faint  voice  asked  for  water.  One  of  the  Vigilantes  re- 
lated to  him  the  crimes  of  which  he  had  been  guilty. 

"  Of  course,"  said  he,  "  you  know  that  offences  of  this 
magnitude,  in  all  civilized  countries,  are  punished  with 
death.  The  necessity  for  a  rigid  enforcement  of  this  pen- 
alty, In  a  country  which  has  no  judiciary,  is  greater  even 
than  in  one  where  these  crimes  are  tried  by  courts  of  law. 
There  is  no  escape  for  you.     We  are  sorry  that  you  have 


404  VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

incurred  this  penalty, —  sorry  for  you,  but  the  blame  is 
wholly  yours." 

Hunter  made  no  reply  to  the  justice  in  his  case,  but  re- 
quested that  his  friends  should  not  be  informed  of  the  man- 
ner of  his  death. 

"  I  have,"  said  he,  "  no  property  to  pay  the  expense  of 
a  funeral,  and  my  burial  even  must  depend  upon  your  char- 
ity.   I  hope  you  will  give  me  a  decent  one." 

"  Every  reasonable  request  shall  be  granted,  Bill,"  said 
the  Vigilante;  "  but  you  know  the  ground  is  too  hard  for 
us  to  attempt  your  interment  without  proper  implements. 
We  will  inform  your  friends  of  your  execution,  and  they 
will  attend  to  your  burial." 

While  this  conversation  was  going  on,  some  of  the  Vigi- 
lantes had  prepared  the  noose,  and  passed  the  rope  over 
a  limb  of  the  tree.  The  criminal  shook  hands  with  all,  tear- 
fully bidding  each  "  good-bye."  After  the  rope  was  ad- 
justed, several  of  the  men  took  hold  of  it,  and  at  a  given 
signal,  by  a  rapid  pull,  ran  the  prisoner  up  so  suddenly 
that  he  died  without  apparent  suffering;  yet,  strange  to 
say,  he  reached  as  if  for  his  pistol,  and  pantomimically 
cocked  and  discharged  it,  the  by-standers  stated,  six  times. 
The  "  ruling  passion  was  strong  in  death."  Leaving  the 
corpse  suspended  from  the  tree,  the  Vigilantes,  now  that 
their  work  was  done,  hurried  homeward  at  a  rapid  pace. 

Hunter  was  the  last  of  Plummer's  band  that  fell  into 
tlie  hands  of  the  Vigilantes.  The  man  was  not  destitute 
of  redeeming  qualities.  He  often  worked  hard  in  the  mines 
for  the  money  lie  lost  at  the  gaming-table,  but  in  an  evil 
hour  he  joined  Plummer's  gang,  and  aided  in  the  commis- 
sion of  many  infamous  crimes.  In  his  personal  intercourse 
he  was  known  to  perform  many  kind  acts.  He  admitted, 
just  before  his  death,  the  justice  of  his  sentence.  It  is 
believed  that  in  his  escape  through  the  pickets  at  Virginia 
City  he  was  assisted  by  some  of  the  Vigilantes,  wlio  did 
not  credit  his  guilt. 


1 


EXECUTION  OF  HUNTER        4*05 

The  death  of  Hunter  marked  the  bloody  close  of  the 
reign  of  IMunnncr's  band.  He  was  the  last  of  that  terrible 
organization  to  fall  a  victim  to  Vigilante  justice.  The 
retribution,  almost  Draconic  in  severity,  administered  to 
these  daring  freebooters  had  in  no  respect  exceeded  the 
demands  of  absolute  justice.  If  the  many  acts  I  have  nar- 
rated of  their  villainies  were  not  sufficient  to  justify  the 
extreme  course  pursued  in  their  extermination,  surely  the 
unrevealed  history,  greater  in  enormity,  and  stained  with 
the  blood  of  a  hundred  or  more  additional  victims,  must 
remove  all  prejudices  from  the  public  mind  against  the 
voluntary  tribunal  of  the  Vigilantes.  There  was  no  other 
remedy.  Practically,  they  had  no  law,  but,  if  law  had  ex- 
isted, it  could  not  have  afforded  adequate  I'edress.  This 
was  proven  by  the  feeling  of  security  consequent  upon  the 
destruction  of  the  band.  When  the  robbers  were  dead 
the  people  felt  safe,  not  for  themselves  alone,  but  for 
their  pursuits  and  their  property.  They  could  travel  with- 
out fear.  They  had  a  reasonable  assurance  of  safety  in 
the  transmission  of  money  to  the  States,  and  in  the 
arrival  of  property  over  the  unguarded  route  from  Salt 
Lake  City.  The  crack  of  pistols  had  ceased,  and  they  could 
walk  the  streets  without  constant  exposure  to  danger. 
There  was  an  omnipresent  spirit  of  protection,  akin  to  that 
omnipresent  spirit  of  law  which  pervaded  older  civilized 
communities.  Men  of  criminal  instincts  were  cowed  before 
the  majesty  of  an  outraged  people's  wrath,  and  the  very 
thought  of  crime  became  a  terror  to  them.  Young  men 
who  had  learned  to  believe  that  the  roughs  were  destined 
to  rule,  and  who,  under  the  influence  of  that  guilty  faith, 
were  fast  drifting  into  crime,  shrunk  appalled  before  the 
thorough  work  of  the  Vigilantes.  Fear,  more  potent  than 
conscience,  forced  even  the  worst  of  men  to  observe  the 
requirements  of  civilized  society,  and  a  feeling  of  compara- 
tive security  among  all  classes  was  the  result. 

But  the  work  was  not  all  done.     A  few  reckless  spirits 


406  VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

remained,  who,  when  tlie  excitement  was  over,  forgot  the 
lesson  it  taught,  and  returned  to  their  old  vocation.  The 
Vigilantes  preserved  their  organization,  and,  as  we  shall 
see  in  tlie  subsequent  pages  of  this  history,  meted  out  the 
sternest  justice  to  all  capital  offenders. 

This  portion  of  my  history  would  be  incomplete  did  I 
omit  to  mention  that  Smith  and  Thurmond,  the  lawyers 
who  had  on  several  prominent  occasions  defended  the 
bloodiest  of  the  roughs,  were  both  banished.  The  former 
of  these  was  a  man  of  remarkable  ability  in  his  profession, 
and  of  correct  and  generous  impulses.  To  a  clear,  logical 
mind,  and  thorough  knowledge  of  his  profession,  he  added 
fine  powers  as  an  orator;  and  it  was  these  qualities,  more 
than  any  synipathy  he  indulged  for  his  clients,  that  ren- 
dered him  obnoxious  to  public  censure  and  suspicion.  After 
an  exile  of  two  years  he  returned  to  tiie  Territory,  and 
resumed  the  practice  of  law,  which  he  followed  with  suc- 
cess until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  Helena  in  1870.  He 
was  greatly  lamented  by  all  who  knew  him. 

Thurmond  came  from  the  "  west  side,"  with  a  reputa- 
tion for  being  a  friend  of  the  roughs, —  one  not  in  com- 
pllcit}'  with  them,  but  upon  whom  they  could  always  depend 
for  assistance  in  case  of  difficulty.  After  his  banishment 
he  went  to  Salt  Lake  City,  where  he  associated  him- 
self with  the  Danites,  or  Destroying  Angels  of  the  Mormon 
Church,  whom  he  tried  to  induce  to  follow  his  leadership 
in  an  active  crusade  against  all  the  members  of  the  Montana 
Vigilance  Committee  who  might  pass  through  Utah  on 
their  way  to  the  States.  Failing  in  this,  he  afterwards  re- 
moved to  Dallas,  Texas,  where  he  became  involved  in  a 
quarrel  with  a  noted  desperado,  by  whom  he  was  shot  and 
instantly  killed. 

The  administration  of  justice,  and  the  peace  and  safety 
of  the  people,  demanded  the  banishment  of  both  these  men, 
though  many  of  worse  character  and  more  criminal  nature 
but  of  less  influence  were  permitted  to  remain. 


I 


CHAPTER  XLI 

THE  STRANGER'S  STORY 

LATE  In  the  Fall  of  1872,  I  spent  a  few  days  in  Salt 
Lake  City.  One  evening  at  the  Townsend  House, 
while  conversing  with  Governor  Woods  and  a  few  friends 
upon  the  events  which  had  led  to  the  organization  of  the 
Montana  Vigilantes,  I  mentioned  the  name  of  Boone  Helm. 

"  Boone  Helm !  I  knew  him  well,"  was  the  abrupt  ex- 
clamation of  a  stranger  seated  near,  who  had  been  quietly 
listening  to  our  conversation.  We  were  no  less  attracted 
by  the  singular  appearance  of  the  speaker,  than  the  sud- 
denness of  the  remark.  Tall,  slender,  ungainly,  awkward 
in  manner,  he  yet  possessed  a  pleasing,  intellectual  coun- 
tenance, and  a  certain  magnetism,  which  begat  an  instan- 
taneous desire  in  all  to  hear  his  history. 

"  Excuse  me,  gentlemen,"  said  he,  drawing  his  chair 
nearer  our  circle,  "  for  obtruding  myself,  but  the  mere 
utterance  of  the  name  of  Boone  Helm  brings  to  memory 
the  most  thrilling  episode  of  my  life's  history." 

Assuring  him  that  no  apology  was  necessary,  and  that 
the  recital  of  adventures  was  the  order  of  the  evening,  we 
all  united  in  the  request  that  he  should  favor  us  with  his 
narration. 

"  It 's  quite  a  long  story,"  he  resumed,  lighting  his 
meerschaum,  "  and  you  may  tire  of  it  before  I  close.  Our 
individual  experiences  seldom  interest  listeners,  but  the 
subject  of  your  conversation  at  this  time  affords  a  good 
place  to  slip  in  this  single  feature  of  a  life  not  entirely 
void  of  adventure ;  and  I  hope  it  will  not  detract  from  the 

407 


408  VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

entertainment  of  the  evening.  Truth  obliges  nie  to  be  the 
Jiero  of  my  own  tale." 

Drawing  his  chair  into  the  centre  of  our  circle,  he  began  : 

"  I  went  to  Oregon  a  mere  boy,  and  grew  to  manhood  there. 
My  early  education  was  neglected  for  want  of  opportunity, 
there  being  no  schools  in  the  country.  I  mention  this  to  ac- 
count for  a  fact  which  will  become  apparent  hereafter.  Our 
neighbors,  in  the  dialect  of  the  country,  thought  me  a  little 
'  luny/  and  predicted  for  me  an  unhappy  future.  I  certainly 
was  eccentric,  and  when  I  recall  many  acts  of  my  early  life, 
I  do  not  blame  them  for  harshness  of  judgment. 

"  As  I  approached  manhood,  no  text  of  the  sacred  volume 
exercised  me  more  than  that  which  declares  it  is  not  good  for 
man  to  be  alone.  I  set  to  work  to  make  preparations  for  do- 
mestic life.  I  entered  a  quarter  section  of  land,  built  a  house, 
ploughed  fields,  planted  an  orchard,  cultivated  a  garden,  which 
I  laid  out  with  walks,  adorning  them  with  the  choicest  shrubs 
and  flowers.  My  grounds  and  dwelling  were  as  neat  and  com- 
fortal)le  as  the  resources  of  a  new  country  would  permit.  I 
stocked  my  farm  with  horses,  cattle,  sheep,  and  chickens  — 
in  brief,  I  lacked  none  of  the  essentials  to  a  happy  farm  life. 

"  I  had  selected  the  fair  one  who  was  to  share  with  me 
life's  joys  and  sorrows,  and  obtained  her  promise  to  marry  the 
following  autumn.  The  world  before  me  was  roseate  with 
beauty  and  happiness.  My  feelings  were  buoyant,  unmingled 
with  a  single  tliought  of  disappointment  or  failure  in  the  plans 
I  had  made.  But  alas !  in  a  few  brief  months  all  this  dream 
was  wretchedly  dispelled.  I  learned  the  lesson  taught  in 
those  simple  words,  '  Man  proposes,  but  God  disposes.'  When 
the  products  of  my  fields  were  teeming  with  their  highest  life, 
and  the  flowers  and  shrubs  in  my  garden  were  blooming  in 
their  greatest  beauty,  and  the  sun  shone  brightest,  and  the 
birds  sang  sweetest,  an  angry  cloud  appeared,  filled  with 
myriads  of  those  winged  pests  that  have  so  often  swept  from 
the  soil  all  the  hojies  and  treasures  of  the  husbandman.  The 
destruction  of  the  fields  of  Kgypt  mider  the  curse  of  locusts 
was  not  more  complete  than  that  of  the  field  and  garden  which, 
a  few  Iiours  before,  had  been  my  greatest  pride.     They  were 


THE  STRANGER'S  STORY         409 

thoroughly  ch-nudcd  —  field,  garden,  yard,  even  the  stately 
trees  around  my  dwelling  —  all  were  naked,  shaven,  brown, 
and  barren.  A  more  perfect  blight  could  not  be  conceived. 
My  heart  for  the  moment  sank  within  me. 

"  But,  being  naturally  of  a  hopeful  disposition,  I  remem- 
bered that  Hocks  and  herds  were  still  left,  and  I  determined 
to  look  at  the  disaster  with  a  strong  heart,  and  try  by  re- 
newed exertion  to  regain  what  had  been  lost.  Alas !  troubles 
never  come  singly.  I  was  obliged  to  postpone  my  marriage 
indefinitely.  The  coldest  winter  and  heaviest  snows  ever 
known  before  or  since  in  that  country  brought  starvation  to 
all  my  cattle,  horses,  pigs,  and  chickens,  and  when  spring 
came  I  had  nothing  left  but  m}'  dwelling.  I  became  despond- 
ent, sulky,  indifferent.  My  father,  who  dwelt  in  another  part 
of  the  country,  was  wealthy.  Generously  sympathizing  in 
my  misfortunes,  he  offered  to  give  me  a  fresh  start,  with  three 
hundred  head  of  cattle  and  the  necessaries  of  life.  I  accepted, 
and  determined  to  plunge  deeper  into  the  wilds,  away  from 
civilization,  and  begin  life  anew,  thinking  to  avenge  myself 
upon  the  disappointments  of  the  past  by  a  solitary  life,  with 
nature  and  books  as  a  solace. 

'  I  bought  a  well-selected  assortment  of  educational  vol- 
umes, ranging  from  a  spelling-book  to  the  Latin  and  Greek 
classics,  and  from  Ray's  Arithmetic  to  the  higher  branches  of 
mathematics,  and,  employing  three  reliable  men  to  drive  the 
herd,  picked  my  way  over  mountains  and  rivers  to  the  Rogue 
River  Valley,  a  region  then  destitute  of  settlers,  but  the  prin- 
cipal hunting-ground  and  home  of  the  fiercest  and  most  war- 
like tribe  of  Indians  on  the  Pacific  coast.  Their  hostility  to 
the  whites  then,  and  for  many  years  afterwards,  was  blood- 
thirsty and  unappeasable.  But  I  was  accustomed  to  frontier 
life,  familiar  with  the  country,  and  did  not  fear  the  Indians. 
The  valley  was  full  of  game,  and  they  would  not  kill  my  stock. 
My  life,  which  they  would  destroy  on  the  first  opportunity,  I 
determined  to  look  out  for  as  best  I  might ;  besides,  there  was 
an  indescribable  charm  in  the  idea  of  such  exposure  as  re- 
quired a  constant  exercise  of  all  the  faculties.  A  man  shows 
for  all  he  is  worth  in  a  country  filled  with  hostile  Indians. 


410   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

He  makes  no  mistakes  there,  and  learns  the  value  of  gun, 
pistol,  and  hunting-knife. 

"  I  selected  a  plaee  thirty-six  miles  west  of  the  old  Cal- 
ifornia trail,  under  the  shadow  of  the  Coast  Range  of  moun- 
tains, in  one  of  the  most  charming  of  valleys.  The  only  evi- 
dence that  it  had  ever  been  visited  by  a  human  being  was  a 
small  Indian  trail  near  by,  which  led  from  the  base  of  Siski- 
you Mountain  to  the  ocean,  near  the  mouth  of  Coquillas  River. 
I  turned  my  cattle  upon  the  fine  range  of  native  grass  which 
covered  both  hill  and  valley  in  all  directions,  and,  with  the 
aid  of  the  herdsmen,  built  a  log  cabin,  stockading  a  half- 
acre,  enclosing  it  with  poles  fifteen  feet  high.  My  armory 
consisted  of  one  rifle,  fifteen  United  States  yagers,  one  double- 
barrelled  shotgun,  a  pair  of  Colt's  revolvers,  and  a  large 
supply  of  ammunition.  Feeling  that  I  was  now  prepared  to 
defend  myself  against  the  Indians,  I  dismissed  the  men,  who 
returned  to  the  settlements,  and  began  the  life  of  solitude. 

"  In  the  early  days  of  this  experience,  I  confess  I  sometimes 
cast  longing  thoughts  back  to  the  relations  and  friends  I  had 
forsaken,  and  wished  I  had  been  less  precipitate  in  my  choice 
of  a  mode  of  life.  Then  the  past  would  come  up,  with  its 
commencement  of  jjromise  and  happiness,  and  its  close  of 
disappointment  and  gloom.  I  called  philosophy  to  my  aid, 
and  strove  to  forget,  in  my  studies,  which  I  engaged  in  with 
energy,  all  my  former  joys  and  griefs. 

"  Familiarity  with  my  condition  wore  away  all  regrets,  and 
I  soon  learned  to  love  my  exile,  and  to  regard  it  as  the  most 
instructive  and  least  harmful  portion  of  my  life.  To  avoid 
too  great  monotony,  I  occasionally  spent  a  day  in  hunting  or 
fishing,  or  looking  after  my  herd;  but  the  jirofieiency  I  made 
in  study  was  my  greatest  source  of  encouragement  and  hap- 
piness. 

"  Month  after  month  imperceptibly  glided  away,  except  as 
each  was  marked  by  some  increase  in  knowledge,  and  some  ad- 
ditions to  my  cattle.  I  felt  resigned  to  an  isolation  which 
cast  me  oflf  from  all  communion  with  the  world  and  all  knowl- 
edge of  its  transactions.  Indians  would  occasionally  appear, 
but  thev  knew  mv  means  of  defence,  and  never  disturbed  me. 


THE  STRANGER'S  STORY        411 

Their  attacks  upon  armed  men,  like  those  made  upon  the 
grizzly  or  mountain  lion,  are  only  ventured  when  safe,  and 
always  with  strategy.  Sometimes,  when  I  saw  them  passing, 
I  longed  for  a  tussle  with  them  as  a  change  of  occupation, 
but  they  never  gave  me  the  opportunity. 

"  One  day,  wearied  with  a  problem  in  Euclid,  I  shouldered 
my  rifle,  and  strolled  into  the  adjacent  forest  in  quest  of  a 
deer.  A  rustle  in  the  undergrowth  attracted  my  attention. 
Supposing  it  to  be  caused  by  some  animal,  I  peered  cautiously 
in  the  direction  from  M'ithin  the  shadow  of  a  pine,  and  saw, 
to  my  surprise,  a  man  half  concealed  in  a  thicket,  watching 
me.  It  was  the  work  of  an  instant  to  bring  my  rifle  to  an  aim. 
Who  are  you.''  '  I  demanded,  knowing  if  he  were  a  white 
man  he  would  answer. 

"  He  replied  in  unmistakable  English,  '  I  am  a  white  man  in 
distress.' 

"  Dropping  my  rifle  on  my  shoulder,  I  hastened  to  him,  and 
found  a  shrunken,  emaciated  form,  half  naked,  and  nearly 
famished.     A  more  pitiable  object  I  never  beheld. 

My  name,'  said  he,  '  is  Boone  Helm.  I  am  the  only  sur- 
vivor of  a  company  which,  together  with  the  crew  and  vessel, 
were  lost  on  the  coast  ten  days  ago.  We  were  bound  for  Port- 
land from  San  Francisco,  and  were  driven  ashore  in  a  storm. 
I  escaped  by  a  miracle,  and  have  wandered  in  the  mountains 
ever  since,  feeding  on  berries,  and  sleeping  under  the  shelter 
of  rocks  and  bushes.  I  came  in  this  direction,  hoping  to  strike 
the  California  trail,  and  fall  in  with  a  pack  train.' 

"  He  gave  me  a  circumstantial  account  of  his  shipwreck 
and  wanderings,  which  interested  me  very  much.  My  sym- 
pathies were  enlisted,  and  I  conducted  him  to  vay  home,  shar- 
ing '  bed  and  board  '  with  him  for  a  month  or  more.  He  re- 
cruited in  strength  rapidly.  I  found  him  genial  and  intelli- 
gent, though  uneducated.  He  was  an  agreeable  talker,  and 
told  a  story  with  an  enchanting  interest.  By  shreds  and 
patches  he  disclosed  much  of  his  personal  history,  occasionally 
dropping  a  word  or  expression  which  led  me  to  believe  he  had 
been  a  great  criminal,  and  more  than  once  imbrued  his  hands 
in  the  blood  of  his  fellowman.     He  remained  with  rac  for  a 


412   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

month  or  more,  long  enough  to  make  the  prospect  of  separa- 
tion painful,  though  I  felt  that  I  would  be  better  off 
without  than  with  him.  When  he  left,  I  gave  him  a  good 
buckskin  suit,  a  cap,  a  pair  of  moccasins,  and  a  gun.  He 
wrung  my  hand  at  departure,  expressing  the  warmest  grati- 
tude. 

"  For  a  while  I  was  very  lonely,  and  found  my  studies  irk- 
some; but,  as  time  flew  on,  I  fell  naturally  into  my  old  round 
of  employment,  and  solitude  became  sweeter  than  ever.  An- 
other year  came  and  went,  during  which  I  labored  diligently 
at  my  books.  I  was  proud  of  my  acquirements.  I  had  mas- 
tered arithmetic,  algebra,  and  geometry,  and  read  Latin  and 
Greek  with  facility.  My  herds  had  greatly  increased.  I 
could  drive  them  to  Yreka  and  sell  them  for  a  small  fortune, 
a  measure  I  had  determined  upon  for  the  following  summer. 
Except  when  I  went  to  fisli  or  hunt,  or  look  after  my  cattle, 
I  never  left  my  home.  It  was  my  custom,  during  the  warm 
days  of  summer,  to  spread  my  blanket,  and  lie  down  in  the 
shade  of  the  stockade ;  and,  with  guns  and  pistols  in  reach, 
pursue  my  studies. 

"  One  day  while  thus  extended,  reading  a  thrilling  passage 
in  the  .Sneid,  I  was  startled  by  the  distant  clatter  of  a  rapidly 
approaching  horse.  Seizing  my  rifle,  I  sprang  to  an  opening, 
to  reconnoitre  for  Indians.  I  could  see  nothing, —  the  noise 
had  ceased,  and  I  resumed  reading;  but  in  a  moment  I  heard 
the  hoof-beat  more  distinctly,  and  applied  myself  again  to 
the  crevice.  Judge  of  my  astonishment,  to  behold  at  no  great 
distance  a  woman  well  mounted,  urging  her  steed  rapidly 
towards  my  stockade,  along  the  Indian  trail.  There  was 
something  so  unreal  in  the  thought  that  a  woman  should 
traverse  this  wilderness  alone,  I  could  not  for  a  moment  be- 
lieve my  senses.  But  there  she  was,  coming  at  a  raf)id  rate, 
and,  to  all  appearance,  a  very  beautiful  woman  too.  She  rode 
along  with  the  air  of  a  queen;  her  riding-habit  fitted  closely 
to  a  magnificent  bust,  and  fell  in  graceful  folds  over  the  flanks 
of  her  horse,  which,  though  jaded  with  travel,  seemed  proud 
of  his  burden.  Assisting  hrr  to  alight,  I  invited  her  to  a  seat 
upon  a  box,  spread   witli  my  blankets.      It  was  the  work  of 


THE  STRANGER'S  STORY         413 

a  moment  to  secure  her  horse,  and  liasten  to  her  to  learn  the 
import  of  her  wild  errand. 

"  I  need  not  say  that  my  conduct  on  this  occasion  bordered 
somewhat  upon  the  romantic.  Indeed,  how  else  than  after 
the  fashion  of  a  cavalier  or  knight  of  old  could  I,  under  the 
circumstances,  approach  a  strange  and  beautiful  lady,  who  had 
voluntarily,  and  without  premonition  on  my  part,  placed  her- 
self so  completely  at  my  disposal.''  I  felt  all  the  delicacy  of 
the  situation,  for  I  discovered  at  a  glance  that  she  was  high  of 
spirit,  refined,  and  intelligent. 

Tell  me,'  I  inquired,  '  where  you  came  from,  and  why 
you  are  here.  It  must  be  a  mission  of  more  than  ordinary  pur- 
port that  has  caused  you  to  brave  the  perils  of  a  journey 
through  this  wild,  unfrequented  region.' 

"  Seemingly  for  the  purpose  of  putting  my  curiosity  to  the 
rack,  she  evaded  my  question,  and  talked  about  the  beauty  of 
the  scenery,  the  desolation  of  my  home,  and  finally,  picking  up 
my  books  one  after  the  other,  she  commenced  scanning  and 
rendering  the  liquid  hexameters  of  Virgil  with  the  grace  and 
ease  of  an  accomplished  professor.  Provoking  as  this  caprice 
was,  there  was  a  charm  about  it,  which  led  me  soon  to  adopt 
the  same  playful  humor. 

"  '  It  cannot  be,'  I  said  laughingly,  *  that  you  have  come 
here  to  marry  me.' 

"  '  No,  indeed,'  she  replied,  blushing  and  smiling  at  the 
same  time.  '  I  need  not  have  run  so  great  a  risk,  if  marriage 
had  been  my  object.' 

"  '  Well,  then,'  I  rejoined,  '  jNIadam  or  Miss,  angel  or  spirit, 
or  whatever  you  are,  for  the  love  of  Heaven  relieve  me  from 
this  suspense,  and  tell  me  what  brought  you  to  my  desolate 
cabin.' 

"  The  earnest  tone  in  which  I  asked  the  question  elicited  a 
serious  reply. 

"  '  I  was  born  and  reared  in  Boston,  the  only  child  of  highly 
educated  parents.  My  father  was  a  merchant  of  wealtli  and 
position.  I  never  knew  a  want  unsupplied  or  a  pleasure  un- 
gratified,  that  parental  love  could  bestow,  in  my  cliildhood  days. 
At  school,  I  learned  rapidly,  outstripping  my  classmates,  and 


414   VIGILANTE  DAYS  A\D  WAYS 

receiving  encomiums  from  my  teacher.  I  was  sent  to  a  sem- 
inary, and  graduated  with  signal  honor.  Exhibiting  an  early 
taste  for  music,  vocal  and  instrumental,  after  my  classical 
course  was  completed,  I  was  placed  under  the  instruction  of 
the  best  professors.  Just  at  this  time,  my  father  failed  be- 
cause of  the  misconduct  of  his  partner,  and  was  utterly  ruined. 
Everything,  even  to  the  old  homestead,  was  swept  away  by 
his  creditors.  My  father,  wounded  in  spirit  and  feeble  in 
health,  sunk  under  the  blow,  and  died  in  a  few  montlis. 

Never  shall  I  forget  the  look  of  utter  despair  on  the 
face  of  my  dear  mother,  when  we  consigned  my  father  to  his 
last  resting-place.  It  seemed  as  if  her  fountain  of  tears  was 
exhausted,  and  her  heart  would  break.  She  threw  herself 
into  my  arms  like  a  child,  and  looked  up  to  me  for  counsel 
and  protection.  I,  in  turn,  almost  sinking  beneath  the  care 
thus  early  cast  upon  me,  looked  up  to  the  Great  Father  for 
aid,  and  became  strong. 

"  '  The  California  gold  excitement  had  just  reached  the  At- 
lantic coast.  People  everywhere  were  wild.  I  partook  of  the 
infatuation,  and  then  determined  to  seek  my  fortune  in  that 
far-off  land.  My  friends  tried  to  dissuade  me.  but  my  pur- 
pose was  fixed.  Placing  my  mother  in  charge  of  a  kind  rela- 
tive, where  I  knew  she  would  be  cared  for,  I  sold  my  jewelry 
for  money  to  meet  the  expenses  of  the  journey,  and  sailed  by 
way  of  the  Isthmus,  for  San  Francisco,  where  I  arrived  early 
in  the  Summer  of  ISoO. 

"  '  There  were  but  four  American  ladies  in  California  when 
I  arrived.  I  found  myself  alone,  a  stranger  in  a  strange 
land;  but,  with  courageous  heart,  pure  purpose,  judgment 
matured  by  experience,  and  a  firm  trust  in  God,  I  had  no  fears 
for  success.  I  soon  became  familiar  with  the  marvellous  rich- 
ness of  the  mines,  the  solitary  life  and  many  wants  of  tin- 
miners.  My  opportunity  was  apparent.  Purchasing  a  small 
assortment  of  stationery,  consisting  chieHy  of  pens,  ink,  paper, 
envelopes,  and  j)ostage  stamps,  I  visited  the  various  mining 
camps,  selling  my  wares  to  the  miners,  writing  letters  for  many 
whose  hands  were  so  stiffened  that  they  could  not  guide  a 
pen,  and  singing  the  simple  ballads  I  had  learned  in  the  days 


I 


THE  STRANGER'S  STORY         415 

of  prosperity.  They  paid  me  generously,  often  .an  hundred- 
fold the  value  of  their  purchase.  I  was  everywhere  received 
and  treated  with  a  respect  akin  to  idolatry,  regarded,  indeed, 
as  a  being  almost  supernatural.  These  noble-hearted  men, 
remembering  beloved  ones  they  had  left  in  the  States,  were 
so  respectful,  so  kind,  so  attentive,  it  seemed  that  they  could 
not  do  enough  for  me.  Commencing  thus,  afar  up  in  the 
Sierras,  near  Hangtown  (Placerville),  I  visited  all  the  mining 
regions,  until  I  arrived  at  Yreka,  a  new  camp,  just  then 
creating  the  wildest  excitement. 

"  '  I  had  now  money  enough  to  carry  out  the  design  near- 
est my  heart,  of  going  East,  and  returning  with  my  mother  to 
live  at  San  Francisco.  While  at  Yreka,  I  put  up  at  the  princi- 
pal hotel,  a  half-finished  house,  with  rooms  separated  by  light 
board  partitions,  and  crowded  with  the  varieties  of  a  thriv- 
ing mining  town. 

One  evening,  after  a  day  of  more  fatiguing  labor  than 
usual,  I  retired  early,  but  could  not  sleep.  While  tossing  upon 
the  pillow,  I  heard  two  men  enter  the  adjoining  room,  and 
engage  in  earnest  conversation.  I  could  hear  distinctly  every 
word  they  uttered,  and  the  subject  they  were  discussing  very 
soon  riveted  my  attention.  They  were  planning  a  murder  and 
robbery.  In  the  midst  of  their  conversation,  another  man  en- 
tered, whom  they  saluted  by  the  name  of  Boone  Helm.  He 
seemed  to  be  their  leader,  for  he  proceeded  at  once  to  describe 
the  home  and  surroundings  of  the  intended  victim,  said  he  had 
been  there  and  shared  his  hospitality  for  several  weeks ;  spoke 
of  the  road  leading  there,  the  trail  from  the  road  to  the  house, 
and  the  distance  of  the  large  herd  of  cattle,  and  the  ready 
sale  for  them  at  Yreka. 

We  cannot,"  said  he,  "  make  more  money  in  a  shorter 
time,  with  greater  ease,  and  less  liability  to  detection,  than 
to  go  there  and  dispose  of  the  man  and  take  his  property." 

"  '  They  finally  agreed  that  at  a  certain  time  the  three 
should  go  in  company,  and  execute  their  murderous  design.  I 
immediately  determined  to  foil  them  in  their  bloody  purpose, 
or  lose  my  life  in  the  attempt.  I  could  not  sleep;  indeed,  so 
nervously  anxious  was  I  to  start  on  my  errand  of  mercy,  that 


410   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

I  could  liardly  await  the  approach  of  morning.  I  arose  early, 
made  immediate  pre])aration  for  departure,  and  before  noon 
was  in  the  saddle  and  on  my  way.  I  had  no  fear  of  Indians, 
simply  because  I  believed  God  would  take  care  of  one  engaged 
on  a  mission  so  pure  and  holy.  I  have  ridden  more  than  two 
hundred  miles  to  warn  you  of  your  danger.  Be  on  your  guard. 
Make  every  preparation  to  defend  yourself,  for,  as  sure  as  the 
time  comes,  the  men  will  be  here  to  take  your  life.  And  now," 
she  concluded,  '  bring  my  horse,  and  I  will  start  on  my  return.' 

"  Language  was  inadequate  to  express  my  gratitude,  or  the 
admiration  with  which  I  regarded  this  noble  act  of  humanity. 
I  begged  and  insisted  that  my  benefactress  should  remain,  at 
least  long  enough  for  rest,  but  she  refused.  I  then  told  her 
my  own  history,  prepared  a  hasty  meal,  and  asked  her  to 
favor  me  with  a  song.  In  the  sweetest  voice  I  think  I  ever 
heard,  she  sung  the  Hunters'  Chorus  in  '  Der  Freyschutz  ' ; 
then,  springing  to  the  saddle,  she  waved  me  a  farewell,  and 
in  a  few  moments  disappeared.  So  sudden  had  been  her  ap- 
pearance and  disai)pearance,  so  startling  the  warning  she  gave 
me,  so  wonderful  her  long  and  dreary  ride,  that  it  all  seemed 
like  a  dream.  I  had  never  made  a  habit  of  prayer,  but,  in- 
fluenced by  the  emotion  of  the  moment,  I  dropped  on  my 
knees,  and  thanked  (Jod,  in  a  fervent  prayer,  for  this  special 
manifestation  of  His   Providence. 

"  The  next  day  I  made  every  needful  preparation  for  de- 
fence, and  calmly  awaited  the  arrival  of  the  ruffians.  In  the 
afternoon  of  the  day  my  informant  mentioned  I  saw  them  ap- 
proaching, one,  whom  I  recognized  as  Helm,  half  a  mile  or 
more  in  advance  of  the  other  two.  I  stood  in  the  gate  of  my 
stockade,  with  my  revolver  in  my  belt,  and  as  he  approached  me 
greeted  him  kindly,  bade  him  enter,  and  closed  and  bolted  the 
door  behind  him.  As  this  had  always  been  my  custom,  he 
did  not  notice  it.  I  saw  at  once,  by  his  subdued,  churlish  man- 
ner, and  his  crabbed  style  of  address,  that  he  was  bent  upon 
mischief.  Hardly  waiting  for  an  exchange  of  common  civil- 
ities, he  said. 

Lend  me  your  pistols.     I  am  going  on  a  perilous  expe- 
dition.' 


THE  STRANGER'S  STORY        417 

"  '  I  cannot  spare  them/  I  replied. 

"  '  But  you  must  spare  them.     I  want  them.' 

"  '  I  tell  you,  I  cannot  let  you  have  them.' 

"  Flying  into  a  passion,  he  with  bitter  oaths  rejoined, 

"  '  I  '11  make  you  give  'em  to  me,  or  I  '11  kill  you,'  at  the 
same  time  grasping  his  revolver. 

"  Before  he  could  pull  it  from  its  scabbard,  I  had  mine 
levelled  with  deadly  aim  at  liis  head,  and  my  finger  on  the 
trigger. 

Make  a  single  motion,'  said  I  emphatically,  '  and  I  will 
shoot  you.' 

"  He  quailed,  for  he  saw  I  had  the  advantage  of  him.  His 
comrades  now  approached  the  gate  from  without. 

Break  down  the  door,'  he  shouted,  and,  adding  an  op- 
probrious epithet,  ordered  them  to  kill  me. 

"  Still  holding  mv  pistol  level  with  his  temple,  I  replied 
sternly, 

"  '  If  they  attempt  such  a  movement,  I  will  kill  you 
instantly.' 

"  He  knew  me  to  be  desperately  in  earnest,  and,  taking  the 
hint,  told  them  to  go  away.     They  obeyed. 

Now,  sir,'  I  persisted,  still  holding  him  under  fire,  '  un- 
buckle and  drop  your  belt,  pistol,  and  knife,  and  walk  from 
there,  so  that  I  can  get  them.' 

"  He  begged,  but  I  was  inexorable.  He  tried  to  throw  me 
off  my  guard  by  referring  pleasantly  to  our  former  acquaint- 
ance, and  assuring  me  he  was  only  jesting,  and  would  not 
harm  me  for  the  world.  I  told  him  I  had  been  warned  of  his 
coming  and  its  object,  and  detailed  with  some  particularity  the 
conversation  he  had  with  his  companions  at  the  time  they 
agreed  upon  the  expedition.  He  stoutly  denied  it,  and  de- 
manded the  source  of  my  information.  Knowing  that  he  was 
ignorantly  superstitious,  I  gave  him  to  understand  that  it 
was  entirely  providential.  For  a  moment  he  seemed  dum- 
founded,  and,  hardened  as  he  was  in  crime,  showed  by  his 
action  that  he  believed  it.  I  made  him  sit  down,  and  kept 
him  in  range  of  my  revolver  all  night,  conversing  with  him, 
meantime,  on  such  subjects  as  were  best  calculated  to  win  his 


418   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

confidence.  The  night  seemed  a  year  in  duration,  but  he  told 
me  his  entire  history  —  his  birth,  the  errors  of  his  early  man- 
hood, his  first  and  only  love,  the  illness  and  death  of  his  be- 
trothed, his  resolution  to  lead  a  criminal  life,  his  murder  of 
Shoot,  his  escape,  and  many  other  murders  that  he  afterwards 
committed,  and  of  his  intention  to  murder  me  and  dispose  of 
my  cattle.  I  never  heard  or  read  a  more  horrible  history  than 
that  narrated  by  this  man  of  blood.  He  lost  no  opportunity 
to  throw  me  off  my  guard,  but  I  knew  too  well  what  would  be 
the  result.  He  was  my  prisoner,  under  absolute  control,  as 
long  as  his  life  was  in  my  power. 

"  Morning  came.  Helm's  companions  were  still  lingering 
near  the  stockade.  I  ordered  them  to  withdraw  a  certain  dis- 
tance, that  I  might  with  safety  release  my  prisoner.  I  then 
opened  the  gate,  and  with  my  double-barrelled  shotgun  lev- 
elled upon  him,  bade  him  go,  assuring  him  that  if  we  ever 
met  again  I  would  shoot  him  on  sight.  He  marched  out  and 
away  with  his  comrades.  The  next  intelligence  I  received 
concerning  him  was  the  announcement  of  his  execution  by 
the  righteous  Vigilantes  of  Montana  in   1864. 

"  I  beg  pardon,  gentlemen,  for  detaining  you  so  long.  My 
story  is  done." 

After  a  moment's  silence  one  of  our  circle,  a  nervous, 
excitable  young  man,  remarked, 

"  We  cannot  consider'the  story  completed  until  we  know 
something  more  of  the  young  lady.  She  is  really  the  ob- 
ject of  the  most  interest." 

"  Well,  gentlemen,"  he  resumed,  "  since  you  desire  it,  I 
will  tell  you  all  I  know.  Soon  after  Helm's  departure,  in- 
fluenced by  a  desire  to  have  the  address  of  and  see  once 
more  my  benefactress,  I  drove  my  herd  to  Yreka,  and  sold 
it  for  a  handsome  sum.  While  there  I  searched  diligently, 
but  in  vain,  for  my  heroine.  She  had  gone,  and,  as  she  had 
refused  to  give  me  her  name,  I  found  inquiry  for  her  im- 
practicuhie.     I  went  to  San  Francisco,  but  no  one  could 


THE  STRANGER'S  STORY        419 

give  me  the  least  trace  of  her,  and,  after  repeated  disap- 
pointments, I  gave  up  the  search  and  returned  to  Oregon. 

"  Five  years  thereafter,  business  took  me  to  Portland. 
While  seated  by  the  office  stove,  in  conversation  with  some 
old  friends,  the  clerk  came  and  whispered  that  a  young  lady 
in  the  parlor  wished  to  see  me.  Wondering  who  she  could 
be,  I  hastened  to  the  room,  and  there  sat  my  friend  of  the 
wilderness.  She  gave  me  a  cordial  greeting,  and  to  my  nu- 
merous and  eager  inquiries,  informed  me  in  substance  that 
soon  after  she  left  me  and  returned  to  Yreka,  she  went  to 
Boston.  After  a  year  spent  among  old  friends,  she  came 
back  to  San  Francisco,  accompanied  by  her  mother.  She 
purchased  a  neat  residence  there,  and  it  was  now  her  home. 
She  had  arrived  in  Oregon  with  some  friends  the  day  before 
on  a  pleasure  excursion,  but  intended  to  return  in  a  few 
days.  We  had  a  pleasant  interview,  and  I  bade  her  good- 
bye." 

"  So  you  did  not  marry  her,  after  all,"  was  the  eager 
remark  of  our  young  friend. 

"  No,  gentlemen.  Had  I  not  been  fortunately  married 
some  time  before  our  last  meeting,  I  cannot  tell  what  might 
have  happened ;  but  as  it  was,  I  did  not  marry  her  after 
all,  as  you  say." 


CHAPTER  XLII 

WHITE  AND  DORSKTT 

THE  attfxclimcnts  formed  between  men,  wlicre  the  priv- 
ileges and  enjoyments  of  social  life  are  confined  to  the 
monotonous  round  of  a  mining  camp,  arc  necessarily 
strong.  The  surroundings,  which  dictate  great  prudence 
in  the  choice  of  friends,  where  confidence  is  once  estab- 
lished, are  continually  strengthening  the  ties  that  bind  men 
to  each  other.  Self-preservation  and  self-interest  will  fur- 
nish apologies  for  incompatibilities  of  temper  in  the  moun- 
tains, which  would  sever  friendships  formed  in  less  exposed 
connnunities.  The  sterling  qualities  of  truth,  honor,  in- 
tegrity, and  kindness  are  sooner  ascertained  and  more 
highly  prized  among  miners  than  any  other  class.  We  have 
seen  the  operation  of  these  principles  in  the  instance  of 
Beachy  and  Magrudcr,  a  very  strong  but  not  an  excep- 
tional case ;  this  is  another  narrative  of  similar  import. 

Rudolph  Dorsett  arrived  at  Bannack  with  a  party  of 
miners  from  Colorado,  in  April,  186i3.  During  the  fol- 
lowing Summer,  he,  in  company  with  John  White,  the  dis- 
coverer of  the  Bannack  mines,  and  a  few  others,  left  for 
the  interior  on  a  prospecting  tour.  The  Winter  of  18();i- 
64  found  the  little  party  near  the  head  of  Big  Boulder 
Creek,  where  they  had  made  some  promising  discoveries. 
Being  nearly  out  of  provisions,  White  and  Dorsett  started 
on  horseback  for  Deer  I^odge,  to  obtain  a  fresh  supply. 
At  the  head  of  Boulder,  they  came  upon  one  Kelley  and 
a  comrade,  who  had  made  a  camp  there,  and  been  detainetl 
several  days  by  deep  snows.     They  were  literally  "  snowed 

420 


WHITE  AND  DORSETT  421 

in  ";  and,  their  food  being  exhausted,  they  had  killed  and 
were  feeding  upon  one  of  their  horses. 

After  supplying  their  inunediate  wants,  White  and  Dor- 
sett,  discouraged  by  the  gatJiering  snows  from  any  fur- 
ther effort  to  cross  the  main  ridge,  changed  their  course, 
and,  taking  tlie  two  men  with  them,  started  for  Virginia 
City,  where  they  arrived  after  three  days  of  perilous 
travel.  Kellcy  and  his  partner  were  entirely  destitute. 
Their  kind  benefactors  made  known  their  condition  to 
Henry  Thompson  and  William  Rumsey,  and  they  paid 
their  bills  at  a  restaurant  the  two  days  succeeding  their 
arrival ;  and  other  citizens  of  Virginia  City,  at  Dorsett's 
solicitation,  provided  them  with  clothing.  An  arrange- 
ment was  made  for  Kellcy  and  his  comrade  to  return  with 
White  and  Dorsett  to  their  camp ;  but,  when  the  time  came 
to  leave,  Kelley  said  that  he  had  been  promised  a  horse 
the  next  daj',  which  he  would  get  and  overtake  them.  The 
three  men  departed  without  him,  and,  after  a  cold  ride 
of  several  days,  found  their  party  camped  on  the  upper 
waters  of  Prickly  Pear  Creek.  They  were  all  in  excel- 
lent spirits,  and  supposed  they  had  found  a  very  prolific 
placer.  Dorsett,  true  to  the  confidence  reposed  in  him  by 
his  friends,  Thompson  and  Rumsey,  returned  immediately 
to  Virginia  City,  to  apprise  them  of  his  good  fortune,  so 
that  they  might  improve  the  earliest  indications  of  a  stam- 
pede, and  secure  a  good  interest  in  the  placer  mine.  This 
is  one  of  the  rigid  requirements  of  friendship  in  a  mining 
region.  No  matter  how  distant  the  discovery  may  be,  nor 
how  difficult  the  journey,  when  a  mine  is  found  of  any 
value,  it  is  the  duty  of  the  discoverer,  before  disclosing  it 
to  the  public,  to  notify  his  friends,  that  they  may  make 
sure  of  the  best  location.  Indeed,  in  the  early  days  of 
Montana,  there  were  hundreds  of  old  miners,  experts  in 
the  business  of  prospecting,  who,  being  unable  to  pur- 
chase "  grub,"  were  fully  supplied  with  horses,  food,  and 


422   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

tools,  upon  tlie  distinct  understanding  that  they  were  to 
share  with  those  wlio  "  outfitted  "  them  in  all  their  dis- 
coveries. Woe  to  the  man  who  was  base  enough  to  violate 
this  agreement !  If  he  escaped  lynching  he  never  failed 
being  driven  from  the  country  by  the  hisses  and  execra- 
tions of  every  "  honest  miner  "  in  it.     There  was  held 

"  in  every  honest  liand,  a  whi]) 
To  lash  the  rascals  naked  through  the  world." 

During  the  night  following  the  departure  of  White, 
Dorsett,  and  Kelley's  partner  from  Virginia  City,  a  mule 
belonging  to  William  Hunt,  and  a  horse  owned  by  another 
citizen  of  Virginia  City,  were  stolen.  Dorsett  was  in- 
formed of  this  on  his  return,  and,  not  having  seen  Kelley 
since  his  promise  to  overtake  his  party,  he  at  once  sus- 
pected him  of  the  theft.  The  mule  was  a  very  fine  animal, 
which  Hunt  had  purchased  of  Dorsett  in  Colorado. 

"  If  I  find  him,"  said  Dorsett,  as  he  mounted  his  horse 
to  return  to  the  mine,  "  I  will  recover  and  send  him  back 
to  you." 

The  second  day  after  this  promise  was  made,  while 
crossing  the  divide  between  White  Tail  and  Boulder,  Dor- 
sett met  Kelley  in  possession  of  the  stolen  animals.  After 
a  brief  conversation,  Dorsett  asked, 

"  Where  did  you  get  that  fine  mule,  Kelley?  " 

"  The  man  at  Nevada,  who  promised  me  the  horse  I 
told  you  about,  could  not  find  him,  and  gave  me  the  mule 
instead." 

Not  wishing  to  arouse  Kelley's  suspicion,  Dorsett  asked 
no  more  (juestions,  but,  with  a  friendly  "  good-bye,"  rode 
on  as  rapidly  as  possible  to  his  camp.  He  was  informed 
that  Kelley  had  been  there,  and  had  told  the  miners  that 
some  friend  in  Deer  liodge  had  sent  him  a  written  ofTer 
to  furnish  provisions  and  a  good  outfit  for  prospecting. 
He  was  going  there  immediately  to  accept  it,  and  had 
bought  both  horse  and  mule  for  that  purpose,     \^1len  they 


WHITE  AND  DORSETT  423 

were  informed  that  the  animals  were  stolen,  White  agreed 
to  join  Dorsett,  and  they  started  innnediately  in  pursuit 
of  tile  thief,  thus  furnishing  another  instance  of  the 
strength  of  that  friendship  which  neither  the  freezing 
weather  and  mountain  snows,  nor  long  days  of  travel  and 
long  nights  of  exposure,  could  overcome.  The  single 
thought  of  serving  a  friend  put  to  flight  every  considera- 
tion of  personal  comfort  or  convenience.  They  did  not 
expect  to  be  absent  longer  than  three  days  at  the  most. 

A  week  passed  and  nothing  was  heard  from  them.  Dor- 
sett  had  promised  Thompson  and  Rumsey,  when  he  left, 
that  he  would  return  to  Virginia  City  in  five  or  six  days. 
Ten  days  expired  without  bringing  any  intelligence.  Rum- 
se3''s  fears  were  aroused  for  the  safety  of  his  friends.  Be- 
ing at  Nevada  on  business,  he  mentioned  incidentally  this 
strange  disappearance,  and  Stephen  Holmes,  a  bystander, 
observed  that,  four  days  before,  while  at  Deer  Lodge,  he 
had  met  Kelley  w'ith  Dorsett's  horse,  revolver,  Henry  rifle, 
and  cantinas,  and  that  Kelley  had  told  him  he  traded  for 
them  with  a  man  at  Boulder.  With  characteristic  prompt- 
ness, Rumsey  replied  to  Holmes, 

"  The  men  have  been  murdered  by  the  scoundrel,  and 
he  is  fleeing  with  their  property." 

To  think,  with  such  men  as  Thompson  and  Rumsey,  was 
to  act.  No  time  was  to  be  lost.  Thoroughly  equipped 
for  a  long  pursuit,-  Thompson  and  a  friend  named  Co- 
burn  started  immediately  upon  the  track  of  Kelley,  and 
at  the  same  time  James  Dorsett,  brother  of  Rudolph,  or- 
ganized a  party  with  which  he  went  as  rapidly  as  possible 
to  the  Boulder,  in  search  of  the  missing  men.  This  little 
party  passed  the  first  night  at  Coppock's  ranche  on  the 
Jefferson.  The  next  day,  while  passing  through  a  hol- 
low on  the  Boulder  range,  called  Basin,  they  found  tracks 
diverging  from  the  road  in  the  direction  of  White  Tail 
Deer   Creek.      They   followed   that   stream   nearly   to   the 


424    VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WxVYS 

forks,  when  suddcnl}'  they  saw,  some  distance  before  them, 
two  men  emerge  from  the  thin  forest  of  pines.  They 
spurred  their  horses  into  a  sharp  run.  The  men  turned 
at  the  sound  and  raised  their  guns,  and  stood  upon  tlic 
defensive.  The  approaching  party,  rifles  in  hand,  drew 
nearer,  and  a  conflict  at  long  range  seemed  inevitable. 
Fortunately,  at  this  moment,  one  of  the  two  men  recog- 
nized James  Dorsett,  and  dropped  his  gun,  and  with 
friendly  gestures  rode  toward  him.  Oftensive  demonstra- 
tions were  soon  followed  by  hearty  greetings.  The  two 
men  proved  to  be  John  Ileff'ncr  and  a  comrade,  who  had 
just  been  searching  in  tlie  willows  for  a  suitable  camp- 
ing ground  for  the  night. 

"  I  have  found,"  said  he,  in  a  mournful  tone,  "  what 
you  are  searching  for.  Rudolph  Dorsett  and  John 
White  have  both  been  murdered,  and  their  bodies  are  in 
the  willows." 

"My  God!"  exclaimed  James,  "my  brother  mur- 
dered!" and,  bursting  into  tears,  he  followed  Heft'ner 
into  the  clump. 

"  I  came  in  here,"  said  Heft'ner,  "  to  pick  up  some 
wood  for  a  camp-fire.  This  heap  of  coals  and  burned 
sticks  attracted  my  attention.  Thinks  I,  there's  been 
campers  here  before.  I  looked  around  and  caught  a 
glance  at  the  saddle.  It  startled  me,  for  it  seemed  a  very 
good  one,  and  I  thought  it  strange  that  any  one  would 
leave  it  here.  I  examined  it  narrowly,  and,  lifting  it  up, 
I  beheld  the  dead  face  of  John  White.  You  may  well  be- 
lieve I  was  frightened.  On  turning  to  call  my  partner,  I 
almost  stumbled  over  the  corpse  of  your  brotjur,  wjiich 
was  covered  with  an  overcoat.  We  had  just  completed 
our  survey  of  the  canip,  and  stepped  out  of  tlie  bushes 
to  look  up  another  camping  place,  when  we  heard  your 
horses." 

On  a  close  examination  of  the  spot,  appearances  indi- 


WHITK  AND  DORSETT  425 

catcd  that  White  and  Dorsctt,  with  Kcllcy  as  a  prisoner, 
luid  arrived  there  either  at  a  Lite  hour,  or  without  any 
provisions,  as  tliei'e  was  no  evidence  of  cooking.  They 
had  tied  their  prisoner  with  twisted  strips  of  blanket, 
pieces  of  which  were  found  near,  and,  as  they  doubtless 
supposed,  secured  him  for  the  night.  A  few  fagots  had 
been  heaped  up  for  a  morning  fire;  and  the  theory  of  the 
murder  advanced  by  the  searching  party  was  that,  while 
White  was  on  his  knees  kindling  the  fire,  Kelley  freed 
himself  from  his  bonds,  picked  up  White's  revolver,  and 
shot  him  twice  in  the  back  of  the  neck;  then  seizing  his 
rifle,  turned  and  shot  Dorsett,  who  was  gathering  wood  a 
little  distance  away,  through  the  heart.  An  armful  of 
wood  lay  scattered  where  he  had  fallen.  His  skull  was 
beaten  in  pieces,  a  boulder  lying  near,  bespattered  with 
blood  and  brains,  bearing  gloomy  testimony  to  the  man- 
ner in  which  it  was  done., After  this  his  body  had  been 
dragged  some  twenty  steps  from  the  spot  where  he  fell, 
and  stripped  of  its  clothing,  which  the  murderer  had 
taken  away  with  him,  and  wore  the  day  that  Holmes  met 
him  at  Deer  Lodge.  White's  body  had  also  been  removed, 
and  the  saddle  placed  over  the  face.  The  bodies  were 
taken  to  Coppock's  ranche,  and  thence  to  Virginia  City 
for  burial. 

This  was  one  of  the  earliest  and  most  brutal  tragedies 
in  the  newly  discovered  gold  region ;  and,  happening 
when  they  were  populated  mostly  by  Eastern  people,  and 
before  Plummer  and  his  band  of  ruffians  had  been  ar- 
rested in  their  grand  scheme  of  wholesale  slaughter,  it 
produced  a  profound  sensation  throughout  the  country. 
The  desire  to  capture  and  make  a  public  example  of  the 
ruffian  who  had  committed  the  shocking  crime  was  uni- 
versal. All  eyes  were  turned  to  the  pursuit  of  Kelley  by 
Thompson  and  Cobum,  and  all  ears  open  to  catch  the 
first  tidings  of  its  success.     These  men  were  beyond  the 


426  VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

reach  of  information  of  the  discovery  of  the  bodies  at 
the  time  it  was  made,  but  they  liad  found  evidence  by  the 
way,  which  convinced  them  that  tiivir  friends  had  been  as- 
sassinated. At  Deer  Lodge  a  pistol  which  Kelley  had 
sold  was  identified  by  Thompson  as  the  property  of  Dor- 
sett,  and  liis  initials,  11.  11.  D.,  were  graven  on  the  handle. 
They  pushed  the  pursuit  to  Hell  Gate,  procuring  two 
relays  in  Deer  Lodge  Valley.  Finding  that  the  deep  snows 
rendered  the  Cceur  D'Alene  Mountains  impassable,  they 
turned  back  to  take  the  route  into  Oregon,  by  Jocko  and 
Pend  d'Oreille  lakes.  Between  Frenchtown  and  Hell  Gate 
they  met  an  Indian  with  Dorsett's  saddle,  which  Thomp- 
son took  from  him.  Forty  miles  below  Jocko,  they  re- 
claimed the  horse  from  a  little  band  of  Indians  who  had 
traded  for  it  with  Kelley.  Proceeding  on  towards  the 
Pacific,  they  met  a  company  of  miners,  who  had  met 
Kelley  fifteen  days  before,  on  his  way  to  Lewiston. 

The  men  pursued  their  journey,  following  the  devious 
windings  of  Clark's  Fork  to  its  junction  with  the  Snake 
River,  and  thence  on  to  Lewiston, —  a  tract  of  country  at 
that  time  more  disastrous  for  winter  travel  than  perhaps 
any  other  equal  portion  of  the  continent.  There  were 
no  roads,  and  the  solitary  Indian  trail  leading  over  the 
mountains,  through  caiions,  and  across  large  rivers,  for 
much  of  the  distance  was  obscured  by  snow,  and  in  many 
places  difficult  and  dangerous  of  passage.  Had  their 
object  been  anything  less  than  to  avenge  the  death  of 
their  friend,  they  would  have  turned  back,  and  consoled 
themselves  with  the  reflection  that  it  was  not  worth  the 
risk  and  exposure  needful  to  win  it;  but,  with  that  in 
view,  they  welcomed  privation  and  danger  while  a  single 
hope  remained   of  its   accomplishment. 

At  Lewiston,  Coburn  remained  on  the  lookout,  while 
Thompson  continued  the  pursuit  farther  west.  At  the 
hotel   in    Walla   Walla,   Thompson    found   Kclley*s  name 


WHITE  AND  DORSETT  427 

upon  the  register.  He  learned,  on  inquiring  of  the  clerk, 
that  he  had  told  him  he  came  from  the  Beaverhead  mines. 
The  barber  who  shaved  him  remembered  him,  because  he 
paid  him  an  extra  price  for  the  service.  Kelley  had  pur- 
cliased  a  new  suit  of  clothes,  of  which  Thompson  procured 
a  sample.  With  these  clews  Thompson  hastened  to  Port- 
land, and  ascertained  that  Kelley  had  spent  nine  days 
there,  and  left  by  steamer  for  San  Francisco.  In  fact, 
on  the  day  that  Thompson  arrived  at  Portland,  Kelley 
entered  the  harbor  of  San  Francisco.  Thompson  tele- 
graphed the  chief  of  police  to  arrest  and  detain  him  until 
he  arrived.  He  had  taken  the  precaution  to  obtain  requisi- 
tions from  the  Governor  of  Idaho  on  the  Governors  of 
Oregon,  California,  and  Washington,  and  a  commission 
as  special  deputy  United  States  marshal. 

Chief  Burke,  on  receipt  of  the  telegram,  called  at  the 
hotel  where  Kelley  had  taken  quarters,  and,  not  finding 
him,  gave  no  further  attention  to  the  matter.  Learning 
on  his  return  that  he  had  been  inquired  after,  Kelley,  sus- 
picious of  the  object,  left  the  city  at  once,  taking  with 
him  an  overcoat  and  pistol  belonging  to  a  fellow  boarder. 
Thompson  found,  on  his  arrival  at  San  Francisco,  that 
the  bird  had  flown,  but  in  what  direction  he  was  unable 
to  ascertain.  After  spending  some  time  in  fruitless  in- 
quiry, he  returned  home  with  nothing  better  than  his 
labor  for  his  pains.  It  was  a  sore  disappointment,  but 
none  the  less  demonstrative  as  an  illustration  of  personal 
devotion   and   attachment. 

Kelley  returned  to  Portland,  and  soon  disappeared 
from  public  view.  Thompson  was  constantly  on  the  look- 
out for  him,  and  in  1864  heard  of  him  as  a  participant 
in  a  robbery  committed  in  Port  Neuf  Canon.  It  was 
ascertained  that  after  the  robbery  Kelley  went  to  Den- 
ver, where  he  was  known  by  the  name  of  Childs.  He  re- 
mained  there   several  months.      Thompson  heard   of  his 


428   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

being  there,  and  sent  a  man  to  identify  him.  Kelloy  took 
the  ularn),  and  left  immediately  by  the  Oregon  route  for 
Mexico.  Thompson  wrote  to  a  friend  in  Prescott  to  ar- 
rest him  en  route,  but  the  letter  arrived  too  late,  as  the 
rascal  had  passed  through  the  town  several  days  before. 
If  living,  he  is  still  at  large;  but  there  is  no  corner  of 
the  globe  where  Thompson  would  not  follow  him,  were  he 
certain  that  the  journey  would  effect  his  arrest. 


CHAPTER   XLIII 
LANGFORD  PEEL 

PEOPLE  wlio  were  living  in  the  West  in  1856,  well 
remember  the  terrible  Winter  of  that  year,  and  the 
suffering  it  occasioned  among  the  poorer  classes.  Sever- 
ity of  weather,  scarcity  of  provisons,  and  the  high  price 
of  fuel,  following  hard  upon  a  season  of  uncommon  dis- 
tress and  disaster  in  all  kinds  of  business,  necessarily 
brought  starvation  and  suffering  to  a  large  floating  popu- 
lation, which  had  gathered  into  the  little  towns  and  set- 
tlements along  the  Missouri  border.  This  was  especially 
the  case  in  the  settlements  of  Kansas,  which,  by  their  sup- 
posed opportunities  for  profitable  investment  and  occupa- 
tion, had  attracted  a  large  emigration  from  other  parts  of 
the  Union.  Langford  Peel  was  at  this  time  a  prosperous 
citizen  of  Leavenworth.  Moved  to  compassion  by  the 
sufferings  of  those  around  him,  he  contributed  generously 
to  their  relief.  Among  others  who  shared  liberally  of  his 
bounty  were  Messrs.  Conlcy  and  Rucker,  two  men  whom 
he  found  in  a  state  of  complete  destitution,  and  invited  to 
his  house,  where  they  were  comfortably  provided  for  until 
Spring,  and  then  aided  with  means  to  return  to  their 
friends. 

Of  Peel's  antecedents,  previous  to  this  time,  I  know 
nothing.  He  was  regarded  as  one  of  those  strange  com- 
pounds who  unite  in  their  character  the  extremes  of  reck- 
lessness and  kindness.  In  his  general  conduct  there  was 
more  to  approve  than  condemn,  though  his  fearless  man- 
ner, his  habits  of  life,  and  his  occupation  as  a  gambler, 

429 


430   VIGILANTE  DAYS  xVXD  WAYS 

gave  him  a  doubtful  reputation.  Among  people  of  his 
own  class  he  was  specially  attractive,  because  of  his  great 
physical  strength,  manly  proportions,  undoubted  bravery, 
and  overflowing  kindness.  To  these  qualites  he  added  a 
repose  of  manner  that  gave  him  unbounded  influence  in 
his  sphere.  No  man  was  more  prompt  to  make  the  cause 
of  a  friend  his  own,  to  resent  an  injury,  or  punish  an  in- 
sult. His  dexterity  with  the  revolver  was  as  marvellous 
as  the  ready  use  he  made  of  it  when  provoked.  His  quali- 
fications as  a  rough  and  ready  borderer  bespoke  a  fore- 
ground in  his  life,  of  much  exposure  and  practice. 

The  year  1858  found  him  in  Salt  Lake  City,  in  reduced 
circumstances.  As  if  to  mark  this  reverse  with  peculiar 
emphasis,  Conley  and  Rucker,  the  sharers  of  his  bounty 
two  years  before,  were  also  there,  engaged  in  prosperous 
business.  They  had  seemingly  forgotten  their  old  bene- 
factor, and  treated  him  with  coldness  and  neglect.  Peel 
was  an  entire  stranger  to  all  save  them,  and  felt  bitterly 
their  ingratitude. 

A  citizen  by  the  name  of  Robinson,  who  had  been  at- 
tracted by  the  manly  figure  of  Peel,  observed  him,  a  few 
days  after  his  arrival,  seated  upon  a  log  in  the  rear  of 
the  Salt  Lake  House,  apparently  in  deep  study.  Calling 
his  partner  to  tlie  door,  he  inquired  if  he  knew  him. 

"  His  name  is  Peel,  I  have  been  told,"  was  the  reply. 

"  He  is  in  trouble." 

"  Yes,  he  's  got  no  money,  and  is  a  stranger." 

"  Do  you  know  him .''  " 

"  No,  I  never  spoke  to  him.     I  only  know  he  's  in  dis- 
tress, destitute,  and  has  no  friends.     He  's  the  man  who! 
took  care  of  a  lot  of  boys  that  were  dead  broke,  that  hard] 
winter  at   Leavenworth." 

"He  is?  If  I  didn't  think  he'd  take  it  as  an  insult, 
I  'd  go  out  and  offer  him  some  money." 

Later  in   the  day,  Peel  entered  Robinson's   room,  andj 


LANGFORU  PEEL  431 

approaching  Conley,  who  was  seated  in  the  "  lookout 
seat,"  near  a  table  where  a  game  of  faro  was  progressing, 
said  to  him, 

"  Dave,  I  wish  you  'd  lend  me  twenty-five  dollars." 

"•  I  '11  not  do  it,"  replied  Conley. 

"Why?" 

"  I  've  no  money  to  loan." 

"  I  don't  consider  it  a  loan,"  said  Peel,  looking  stead- 
fastly at  Conley.  Then,  as  if  influenced  by  a  recollection 
of  his  own  kindness  to  the  man  who  refused  him,  he  ex- 
claimed, "  Great  God !  is  it  possible  that  there  is  not  a 
man  in  the  country  who  will  lend  me  twenty-five  dollars  ?  " 

Robinson,  who  was  seated  by  the  table  drawer,  now 
drew  it  out,  and,  grasping  a  handful  of  coin,  threw  it 
eagerly  upon  the  table. 

"  Here,"  said  he,  "  Mr.  Peel,  I  '11  loan  yon  twenty-five 
dollars,  or  as  much  more  as  you  want.  You  're  entirely 
welcome  to  it." 

Peel  turned,  and  fixing  upon  Robinson  a  look  of  min- 
gled surprise  and  gratitude,  responded,  "  Sir,  you  're  a 
stranger  to  me.  We  never  spoke  together  before,  but  I 
will  gratefully  accept  your  kindness,  and  thank  you.  All 
I  want  is  twenty-five  dollars,  and  I  '11  pay  you  as  soon  as  I 
can."  He  then  picked  up  five  half-eagles,  and  placed 
them  in  the  palm  of  his  hand. 

"  Take  more.  Peel,"  said  Robinson.  "  Take  a  hundred, 
or  whatever  you  want." 

"  No,  this  is  all  I  want " ;  then,  fixing  his  gaze  upon 
Conley,  whose  face  was  red  and  swollen  with  anger,  he 
seized  the  "  case  keeper "  used  for  marking  the  game, 
and  hurled  it  violently  at  his  head.  Conley  dodged,  and 
the  only  effect  of  the  act  was  a  deep  indentation  in  the 
adobe  wall,  Conley  sprung  from  his  scat  and  ran  out  of 
the  building.  Peel  drew  his  revolver  with  the  intention  of 
pursuing,  but  Robinson,  seizing  his  arm,  said, 


432   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

"  Stay  your  hand,  Peel.  For  God's  sake,  don't  make 
any  disturbance." 

Peel  sheathed  his  pistol  at  the  moment,  and,  taking 
Robinson  by  the  hand,  replied,  "  No ;  you  must  excuse 
me.  I  beg  a  thousand  pardons,  but  I  was  very  angry. 
You  're  the  only  friend  I  have  in  this  country.  Conley 
has  treated  me  like  a  dog.  All  of  'em  have.  I  have  fed 
them  for  weeks  in  my  own  house,  when  they  had  nothing 
to  eat.  My  wife  has  cooked,  and  washed  and  ironed  their 
clothes  for  them,  and  this  is  the  return  I  get  for  it." 

He  then  started  to  leave,  but,  as  if  suddcnl}'  reminded 
that  he  had  neglected  to  say  something,  he  returned ;  and 
while  the  tears,  which  he  vainly  tried  to  suppress,  were 
streaming  down  his  cheeks,  he  said, 

"  I  '11  certainly  repay  this  money.  I  would  rather  die 
than  wrong  you  out  of  it." 

He  had  been  gone  about  twenty  minutes  when  shots 
were  heard. 

"  I  reckon,"  said  Robinson,  starting  for  the  door, 
"  that  Peel  has  killed  Conley." 

All  followed,  but  they  found  that  the  exchange  of  shots 
was  between  Peel  and  Rucker,  the  latter  the  proprietor 
of  a  faro  bank  on  Commercial  Street,  where  Peel  had 
gone  and  staked  his  money  on  the  turn  of  a  card. 

Rucker,  perceiving  it,  pushed  the  mone}'  away,  remark- 
ing, in  a  contemptuous  tone, 

"  I  don't  want  your  game." 

Smarting  under  the  insult  conveyed  in  these  words.  Peel 
raised  a  chair  to  hit  Rucker  on  the  head.  Rucker  fled 
through  the  rear  door  of  the  building,  and  entered  Mil- 
ler's store  adjoining,  the  back  stairs  of  which  he  hur- 
riedly ascended,  drawing  jiis  revolver  by  the  way.  Peel 
soon  nftir  went  into  tjie  store  by  tjie  front  door,  and  in- 
([uircd  for  Miller,  who  was  absent.  Sauntering  to  the 
rear  of    the   aparfnunt,   wliieh   was   but    dimly   lighted,   he 


LANGFORD  PEEL  438 

came  suddenly  upon  Rucker,  who  had  just  descended  the 
stairs,  and,  with  revolver  In  li.ind,  was  waiting  his  ap- 
proach. 

"  What  do  30U  want  of  nic?  "  inquired  Rucker,  thrust- 
ing his  pistol  against  Peel's  side. 

"  Great  God !  "  was  Peel's  instant  exclamation,  drawing 
and  cocking  his  pistol  with  lightning  rapidity.  Their 
simultaneous  fire  gave  but  a  single  report,  and  both  fell, 
emptying  their  pistols  after  they  were  down.  Peel  was 
wounded  in  the  thigh,  through  the  cheek,  and  in  the  shoul- 
der. Rucker,  hit  every  time,  was  mortally  wounded,  and 
died  in  a  few  moments.  Peel  was  conveyed  to  the  Salt 
Lake  House,  where  his  wounds  received  care. 

Miller  was  clamorous  for  Peel's  arrest,  and  the  city  po- 
lice favored  his  execution,  but  the  sympathies  of  the  people 
were  with  him.  He  had  many  friends,  who  assured  him 
of  protection  from  violence,  and  kept  his  enemies  in  ignor- 
ance of  his  condition  until  such  time  as  he  could  be  removed 
to  a  place  of  concealment.  This  project  was  intrusted  to 
a  Mormon  dignitary  of  high  standing  in  the  church,  who 
was  paid  forty-five  dollars  for  the  service.  He  conveyed 
Peel  to  a  sequestered  hut  twelve  miles  distant  from  the 
city,  on  the  Jordan  road,  and  with  undue  haste  provided 
him  with  female  apparel  and  a  fast  horse,  to  facilitate  his 
escape  from  the  country.  His  wounds  were  too  severe,  and 
he  was  obliged  to  return  to  the  shelter  of  the  hut,  near 
which  Miller  discovered  him  a  few  days  afterwards,  while 
walking  for  exercise.  Miller  disclosed  his  discovery  to  the 
police,  boasting,  meantime,  of  what  he  had  done  in  so  pub- 
lic a  manner  that  the  friends  of  Peel,  hearing  it,  speedily 
provided  for  his  protection.  Close  upon  the  heels  of  the 
policemen  who  had  gone  to  arrest  Peel  they  sent  the  wily 
Mormon,  with  instructions  to  convey  him  to  a  place  of 
safety.  The  night  was  dark,  and  the  rain  froze  into  sleet 
as  it  fell.    The  policemen  stopped  at  a  wayside  inn  to  warm 


434   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

and  refresh  themselves,  and  were  passed  by  the  Mormon, 
who,  dreading  the  vengeance  which  would  visit  him  in  case 
of  fiiilure,  urged  his  horse  into  a  run,  and  arrived  in  time  to 
conduct  Peel  to  Johnson's  ranche,  where  he  was  secreted  for 
several  weeks.  As  soon  as  he  was  able,  he  made  the  journey 
on  horse})ack  to  California,  by  the  southern  route,  passing 
through  San  Bernardino  and  Los  Angeles.  Large  rewards 
were  offered  for  his  arrest,  but  his  friends,  believing  him  to 
be  the  victim  of  ingratitude,  would  not  betray  him. 

The  death  of  Rucker  lay  heavy  on  the  conscience  of  Peel, 
and  from  the  moment  of  his  arrival  on  the  Pacific  coast,  his 
downward  career  was  very  rapid.  He  associated  only  with 
gamblers  and  roughs,  among  whom  the  height  of  his 
ambition  was  to  be  an  acknowledged  chief.  He  was  a  bold 
man  who  dared  to  dispute  the  claim  to  this  title  with  him, 
for  usually  he  did  not  escape  without  disputing  on  the 
spot  his  higher  title  to  life.  Expert  in  pistol  practice,  des- 
perate in  character,  Peel  was  never  more  at  home  than  in 
an  affray.  His  wanderings  at  length  took  him  to  Carson 
City,  in  Nevada,  where  his  shooting  exploits,  and  their 
bloody  character,  form  a  chapter  in  the  early  history  of 
the  place.  It  is  told  of  him  by  his  associates,  as  a  mark 
of  singular  magnanimity,  that  he  scorned  all  advantage 
of  an  adversary,  and,  under  the  bitterest  provocation, 
would  not  attack  him  until  satisfied  that  he  was  armed. 
His  loyalty  to  this  principle,  as  we  shall  see  hereafter, 
cost  him  his  life. 

From  many  incidents  related  of  the  reckless  life  led  by 
Peel  while  in  Nevada,  I  select  one,  as  especially  illustra- 
tive". A  prize  fight  between  Tom  Daly,  a  noted  pugilist, 
and  Billy  Maguirc,  better  known  as  the  "  Dry  Dock 
Chicken,"  was  planned  by  the  roughs  of  Virginia  City.  It 
\sas  intended  to  be  a  "  put-up  job."  By  the  delivery  of  a 
foul  blow,  Maguire  was  to  be  the  loser.  The  referee  and 
mnpire  wore  privy  to  the  arrangement,  and  were  to  decide 


LANGFORD  PEEL  485 

accordingly.  A  great  number  of  sports  were  in  attend- 
ance. At  the  stage  of  })rogress  in  the  fight  agreed  upon, 
Maguire  struck  liis  antagonist  the  exceptionable  blow. 
The  expected  decision  was  given ;  but  Izzy  Lazarus,  and 
other  men  familiar  with  the  rule  of  the  ring,  said  that  it 
was  not  foul.  One  of  the  initiated,  named  Muchacho,  dis- 
puted the  question  with  Lazarus,  M'ho  gave  him  the  lie. 
Drawing  his  pistol,  he  brought  it  to  an  aim,  so  as  to  clear 
the  inner  ring,  and  shouting,  "Look  out!"  fired  and  hit 
Lazarus  in  the  breast.  Lazarus  refrained  from  firing  lest 
he  should  hit  others,  but  approached  IMuchacho,  who  fired 
again,  wounding  his  pistol  hand.  Quick  as  thought, 
Lazarus  seized  his  pistol  in  the  left  hand,  and  fired,  kill- 
ing iNIuchacho  in  his  tracks.  The  row  now  became  gen- 
eral, and  pistol  shots  were  fired  in  all  parts  of  the  crowd. 
No  others  were  killed,  but  many  were  severely  wounded, 
and  such  was  the  confusion  during  the  melee  that  the 
fatal  shot  of  Lazarus  escaped  observation.  Many  were 
the  conjectures  on  the  subject,  but  suspicion  seemed  to 
fasten  upon  Lazarus.  Dick  Paddock,  a  friend  of  his,  be- 
ing in  Robinson's  saloon  a  few  days  after  the  affray, 
boldly  avowed  that  he  fired  it.  Peel  overheard  him,  and, 
after  informing  him  that  Muchacho  was  his  friend,  chal- 
lenged him  to  a  fight  on  the  spot.  Both  men  stepped  out- 
side the  saloon,  took  their  positions,  and  commenced  firing. 
Peel  wounded  Paddock  three  times,  escaping  unharmed 
himself,  and  the  combat  closed  without  any  fatal  conse- 
quences. "  El  Dorado  Johnny  "  renewed  the  quarrel,  for 
the  double  purpose  of  avenging  Paddock  and  establishing 
a  claim  as  chief.  The  next  day,  while  walking  up  street, 
he  addressed  the  following  inquiry  to  Pat  Lannan,  who 
was  standing  in  the  door  of  his  saloon, 

*'  Pat,  what  sort  of  a  corpse  do  you  think  I  'd  make?  " 
"  You  don't  look  much  like  a  corpse  now,  Johnny,"  re- 
plied Lannan,  laughing. 


43G   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

"  Well,  I  'ni  bound  to  be  a  corpse  or  a  gentleman  in 
less  than  five  minutes, "  replied  Johnny,  passing  on. 

Carefully  scrutinizing  the  imnates  of  each  saloon  as  he 
came  to  it,  Johnny  soon  saw  the  object  of  his  search  pass 
out  of  Pat  Robinson's,  a  few  rods  ahead  of  him.  Walking 
rapidly  back,  he  turned  and  faced  him,  and,  half  drawing 
his  pistol,  said, 

"  Peel,  I  'm  chief." 

*'  You  're  a  liar,"  rejoined  Peel,  drawing  his  pistol,  and 
killing  .Johnny  instantly.  The  words  here  recorded  were 
all  that  passed  at  the  encounter.  Johnny  had  his  pistol 
half  drawn,  but  Peel's  superior  dexterity  overcame  the 
advantage.     Peel  was  tried  and  acquitted. 

As  no  meml)er  of  the  company  of  roughs  was  braver 
than  Peel,  so  none  was  more  observant  of  the  rules  and 
principles  by  which  they  were  governed.  In  all  their  rela- 
tions to  each  other,  whether  friendly  or  hostile,  any  viola- 
tion of  a  frank  and  manly  course  was  severel}'  censured, 
and  often  punished.  A  person  guilty  of  any  meanness, 
great  or  small,  lost  caste  at  once.  If  by  any  undue  ad- 
vantage, life  or  property  was  taken,  the  guilty  person 
was  visited  with  prompt  retribution.  Often,  in  the  young 
connnunities  which  sprung  up  in  the  mining  regions, 
prominent  roughs  were  elected  to  positions  in  the  court 
service.  It  was  deemed  a  disgrace  to  suffer  an  arrest  by 
an  officer  of  this  character,  and  with  Peel  it  was  an  every- 
day boast  that  he  would  die  sooner  than  submit  to  any 
such  authority. 

On  one  occasion,  while  under  the  excitement  of  liquor, 
being  threatened  with  arrest,  he  became  unconnnonly  up- 
roarious. A  row  was  threatened,  and  Peel  in  a  boisterous 
manner  was  repeating,  with  nnich  expletive  emphasis,  "  No 
man  that  ever  packed  a  star  in  this  city  can  arrest  nic." 

Patrick  Lannan,  above  referred  to,  had  just  been  elected 
as    policeman.      He   had   never   been   connected    with    the 


LANGFORD  PEEL  437 

roufrhs,  and  was  lilghly  respected  as  a  peaceable,  law- 
abiding  citizen.  On  being  informed  that  there  was  a  man 
down  the  street  stirring  up  an  excitement,  he  rushed  to 
the  scene,  and,  elbowing  his  way  through  the  crowd,  con- 
fronted Peel.  Like  the  hunter  who  mistook  a  grizzly  for 
a  milder  type  of  the  ursine  genus,  he  felt  that  this  was  not 
tiie  game  he  was  after,  but  he  had  gone  too  far  to  recede. 
The  arrest  must  be  effected. 

"  No  man,"  repeated  Peel,  with  an  oath,  "  that  ever 
packed  a  star  in  this  city  can  arrest  me." 

Perceiving  Lannan  standing  near,  he  instantly  added, 

"  I  '11  take  that  back.  You  can  arrest  me,  Pat,  for 
you  're  no  fighting  man.  You  're  a  gentleman,"  and  suit- 
ing the  action  to  the  word,  with  a  graceful  bow,  he  sur- 
rendered his  pistol  to  Lannan,  and  submitted  quietly  to 
be  led  away. 

To  the  credit  of  the  roughs  of  Nevada  be  it  stated  that 
there  were  few  highwayman,  thieves,  or  robbers  among 
them.  Few,  except  those  who  were  ready  to  decide  their 
quarrels  with  the  revolver,  were  killed.  The  villainous 
element  had  been  sifted  from  their  midst  at  the  time  of  the 
hegira  to  the  northern  mines.  Those  who  remained  had 
no  sympathy  with  it.  It  is  not  to  be  denied,  however,  that 
they  were  men  of  extraordinary  nerve,  and  as  a  general 
thing  so  tenacious  of  life,  that,  often,  the  first  to  receive 
a  mortal  wound  in  a  fight  was  successful  in  slaying  his 
antagonist.  Indeed,  so  frequently  was  this  the  case  that 
it  operated  as  a  restraint,  oftentimes,  to  a  projected 
combat.  Peel  belonged  to  the  class  that  were  held  in  fear 
by  tamer  spirits  for  their  supposed  hold  upon  life.  The 
reader  will  pardon  a  digression,  for  the  better  illustration 
it  affords  of  this  prevalent  apprehension. 

One  of  the  most  memorable  fights  in  Nevada  took  place 
between  Martin  Earnhardt  and  Thomas  Peaslcy.  Peas- 
ley  was  a  man  of  striking  presence  and  fine  ability.     He 


438  VIGILANTE  DAYS  AXD  WAYS 

liad  Ijcen  sergeant-at-anns  in  the  Nevada  Assembly.  In  a 
(luarrel  with  Earnhardt  at  Carson  City,  lie  had  been 
wounded  in  the  arm.  Both  Earnhardt  and  Peasley 
c  laimed  to  be  "  chief," —  always  a  sufficient  cause  of  quar- 
rel between  men  of  their  stamp.  Meeting  Peasley  one  day 
after  the  fight,  Earnhardt  tauntingly  asked  him  if  he  was 
as  good  a  man  then  as  he  was  at  Carson. 

"  This,"  replied  Peasley,  "  is  neither  the  time  nor  place 
to  test  that  question." 

Soon  afterwards,  while  Peasle}'  was  seated  m  the  office 
of  the  Ormsby  House  in  Carson,  engaged  in  conversation 
with  some  friends,  Earnhardt  entered,  and  approaching 
him  asked, 

"  Are  you  heeled?  " 

"  For  Heaven's  sake,"  rejoined  Peasley,  "  are  you  al- 
ways spoiling  for  a  fight?  " 

"  Yes,"  cried  Earnhardt,  and  without  furtiier  notice 
fired  his  revolver.  The  ball  passed  through  Peasley's  heart. 
Seeing  that  he  had  inflicted  a  fatal  wound,  Earnhardt 
fled  to  the  washroom,  closing  the  windowed  door  after  him. 
Peasley  rose  and  staggered  to  the  door.  Thrusting  his 
pistol  through  the  sash,  he  fired  and  killed  Earnhardt  in- 
stantly. Falling  back  in  the  arms  of  his  friends,  they 
laid  him  upon  a  billiard  table. 

"Is  Earnhardt  dead?"  ho  whispered,  as  life  was  ebb- 
ing. 

"  He  is,"  was  the  ready  answer  givin  by  half  a  dozen 
sorrowing  friends. 

"  'T  is  well.  Pull  my  boots  off",  and  send  for  my  brother 
Andy,"  and  with  the  words  on  his  lips  he  expired. 

Peasley  was  supposed  to  be  the  original  of  Mark 
Twain's  "  Euck  Fanshaw."  He  was  a  man  of  the  highest 
degree  of  honor,  and,  if  his  talents  had  been  properly  di- 
rected, would  have  distinguished  himself. 

I    resume    the    history    of    Peel,    at    the    point    of    ]u-< 


I 


LANGFORD  PEEL  439 

departure  from  Nevada.  He  left  in  1867,  in  company  with 
Dne  John  Bull  as  a  partner.  They  quarrelled  by  the  way 
and  dissolved  partnership,  but  on  arriving  at  Salt  Lake 
City,  became  reconciled,  and  started  for  Helena,  Montana, 
where  Bull  arrived  some  weeks  in  advance.  When  Peel 
arrived,  Bull  had  gone  to  examine  the  mines  at  Indian 
Creek.  Returning  soon  after,  his  account  was  so  favor- 
able that  Peel  concluded  to  go  there  at  once.  He  came 
back  in  a  week  thoroughly  disgusted,  and  very  angry  at 
Bull,  whom  he  accused  of  misrepresentation  and  false- 
hood. Bull  explained,  and  they  parted  seeming  friends, 
but  Peel's  anger  was  not  appeased.  Meeting  Bull  some 
da3's  after,  he  renewed  the  quarrel  at  Hurley  and  Chase's 
saloon.  Oaths  and  epithets  were  freely  exchanged,  and 
Peel  seized,  and  was  in  the  act  of  drawing,  his  pistol. 

"  I  am  not  heeled,"  said  Bull,  on  discovering  his  de- 
sign. 

"  Go,  then,  and  heel  yourself,"  said  Peel,  slapping  him 
in  the  face. 

Bull  started,  sa^'ing  as  he  went, 

"  Peel,  I  '11  come  back,  sure." 

"  When  you  come,"  replied  Peel,  "  come  fighting." 

Bull  went  out  and  armed  himself.  While  returning,  he 
met  William  Knowlden,  to  whom  he  related  the  circum- 
stances of  the  quarrel,  and  told  him  what  disposition  to 
make  of  his  effects  in  case  he  was  killed.  Passing  on,  he 
met  Peel  coming  out  of  the  saloon,  and  fired  three  shots 
before  Peel  could  draw  his  revolver.  Each  shot  took 
effect,  one  in  the  neck,  one  in  the  face,  and  a  third  in  the 
left  breast.  Peel  fell  and  died  without  uttering  a  word. 
It  was  the  general  opinion  that  he  was  treated  unfairly. 
Bull  was  indicted,  tried,  and  his  conviction  failed  by  dis- 
agreement of  the  jury,  which  stood  nine  for  acquittal, 
and  three  for  a  verdict  of  guilty.  He  left  the  country 
soon  after. 


UO   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

On  ;i  plain  slab  in  the  graveyard  at  Helena  is  tin,-  fol- 
lowing inscription  : 

Sacueu 

TO   THE 

Memory    of 

Langford  Peel. 

Born  in 

Liverpool. 

Died 

July  23,  1867, 

AGED 
36    YEARS. 

In  lifk,  nKLovED  by  his  Friends,  and  respected  by 

HIS  Enemies. 

Vengeance  is  mine,  saith  the  Lord. 

i  know  that  my  redeemer  liveth. 

Erected  by  a  Friend. 

I  was  curious  to  learn  what  suggested  the  last  two  scrip- 
tural quotations,  and  found  that  the  friend  had  the  ide.i 
that,  as  Peel  did  not  liave  fair  play,  the  Lord  would 
avenge  liis  death  in  some  signal  manner.  The  other  sen- 
tence was  thought  to  properly  express  the  idea  that  the 
man  was  living  wlio  would  redeem  Peel's  name  from  what- 
ever obloquy  might  attach  to  it,  because  of  his  having 
"  died  with  his  boots  on."  Could  there  be  a  more  strange 
interpretation  of  the  scriptures.'' 


CHAPTER   XLIV 
JOSEPH  A.  SLADE 

GOOD  men  who  were  intimate  with  Joseph  A.  Slade  be- 
fore he  went  to  Montana  gave  him  credit  for  pos- 
sessing many  excellent  qualities.  He  is  first  heard  of 
outside  of  his  native  village  of  Carlisle,  in  the  State  of 
Illinois,  as  a  volunteer  in  the  war  with  Mexico,  in  a  com- 
pany commanded  by  Captain  Killman.  This  officer,  no 
less  distinguished  for  success  in  reconnoitre,  strategy,  and 
surprise,  than  service  on  the  field  of  battle,  selected  from 
his  regiment  for  this  dangerous  enterprise,  twelve  men  of 
unquestioned  daring  and  energy.  Slade  was  among  the 
number.  A  comrade  of  his  during  this  period  bears  testi- 
mony to  his  efficiency,  which  he  said  always  won  the  ap- 
probation of  his  commander.  How  or  where  his  life  was 
passed  after  the  close  of  the  war,  and  until  he  was  in- 
trusted with  the  care  of  one  of  the  divisions  of  the  Great 
Overland  Stage  route  in  1859,  I  have  no  knowledge.  This 
position  was  full  of  varied  responsibility.  His  capabili- 
ties were  equal  to  it.  No  more  exalted  tribute  can  be 
paid  to  his  character  than  to  say  that  he  organized,  man- 
aged, and  controlled  for  several  years,  acceptably  to  the 
public,  to  the  company,  and  to  the  employees  of  the  com- 
pany, the  great  central  division  of  the  Overland  Stage 
route,  through  six  hundred  miles  of  territory  destitute  of 
inhabitants  and  law,  exposed  for  the  entire  distance  to 
hostile  Indians,  and  overrun  with  a  wild,  reckless  class  of 
freebooters,  who  maintained  their  infamous  assumptions 
with  the  pistol  and  bowie-knife.     No  man  without  a  pecu- 

441 


442   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

liar  fitness  for  such  a  position  could  have  done  this.  Steal- 
ing the  horses  of  the  stage  company  was  a  common  crime. 
The  loss  of  the  property  was  small  in  comparison  with 
the  expense  and  embarrassment  of  delaying  the  coach, 
and  breaking  up  the  regularity  of  the  trips.  If  Slade 
caused  some  of  the  rascals  engaged  in  this  business  to  be 
hanged,  it  was  in  strict  conformity  to  the  public  senti- 
ment, which  in  all  new  countries  regards  horse-stealing  as 
a  capital  offence.  Nothing  but  fear  could  restrain  their 
passion  for  this  guilty  pursuit.  Certain  it  is,  that  Slade's 
name  soon  became  a  terror  to  all  evil-doers  along  the  road. 
Depredations  of  all  kinds  were  less  frequent,  and  whenever 
one  of  any  magnitude  was  committed,  Slade's  men  were 
early  on  the  track  of  the  perpetrators,  and  seldom  failed 
to  capture  and  punish  them. 

The  power  he  exercised  as  a  division  agent  was  despotic. 
It  was  necessary  for  the  service  in  which  he  was  employed 
that  it  should  be  so.  Doubtless,  he  caused  the  death  of 
many  bad  men,  but  he  has  often  been  heard  to  say  that  he 
never  killed  but  one  himself.  It  was  a  connnon  thing  with 
him,  if  a  man  refused  to  obey  him,  to  force  obedience  with 
a  drawn  pistol.  How  else  could  he  do  it,  in  a  country 
where  there  was  no  laAv? 

In  the  purchases  which  he  made  of  the  ranchemen  he 
sometimes  detected  their  dishonest  tricks,  and  generally 
punished  them  on  the  spot.  On  one  occasion,  while  bar- 
gaining for  a  stack  of  hay,  he  discovered  that  it  was  filled 
with  bushes.  He  told  the  rancheman  that  he  intended  to 
confine  him  to  the  stack  with  chains,  and  burn  him,  and 
commenced  making  preparations,  seemingly  for  that  pur- 
pose. The  man  begged  for  his  life,  and,  with  much  ap- 
parent reluctance,  Slade  finally  told  him  if  he  would  leave 
the  country  and  never  return  to  it  he  would  give  him  his 
life.  Glad  of  the  compromise  the  fellow  departed  the  next 
morninfr.     This  was  all  that  Slade  desired. 


JOSEPH  A.  SLADE  443 

Stories  like  these  grate  harshly  upon  the  ears  of  people 
who  have  always  lived  in  civilized  communities.  Without 
considering  the  influences  by  which  he  is  surrounded,  this 
class  pronounce  such  a  man  a  ruffian.  An  author  who 
writes  of  him  finds  it  no  task  to  blacken  his  memor}^  by 
telling  half  the  truth.  People  who  have  once  heard  of 
him  are  prepared  to  believe  any  report  which  connects  his 
name  with  crime.  Wrong  as  this  is  on  general  principles, 
it  has  been  especially  severe  in  the  case  of  Slade.  Mis- 
representation and  abuse  have  given  to  him  the  propor- 
tions, passions,  and  actions  of  a  demon.  His  name  has 
become  a  synonym  for  all  that  is  infamous  and  cruel  in 
human  character.  And  yet  not  one  of  all  the  great  number 
of  men  he  controlled,  or  of  those  associated  with  him  as 
employees  of  the  Overland  Stage  company,  men  personally 
cognizant  of  his  career,  believe  that  he  committed  a  single 
act  not  justified  by  the  circumstances  provoking  it. 

He  could  not  be  true  to  his  employers  and  escape  cen- 
sure, any  more  than  he  could  have  discharged  the  duties 
expected  of  him  without  frequent  and  dangerous  collision 
with  the  rough  elements  of  the  society  in  which  he  moved. 
That  he  lived  through  it  all  was  a  miracle.  A  man  of 
weaker  resolution,  and  less  fertility  of  resource,  would 
have  been  killed  before  the  close  of  his  first  year's  service. 
Equally  strange  is  it,  that  one  whose  daily  business  re- 
quired a  continual  exercise  of  power  in  so  many  and  varied 
forms,  at  one  moment  among  his  own  employees,  at  the 
next  among  the  half-civilized  borderers  by  whom  he  was 
surrounded,  and  perhaps  at  the  same  time  sending  out 
men  in  pursuit  of  horse-thieves,  should  have  escaped  with 
so  few  desperate  and  bloody  encounters. 

The  uniform  testimony  of  those  who  knew  him  is,  that 
he  was  rigidly  honest  and  faithful.  He  exacted  these 
qualities  from  those  in  his  employ.  Among  gentlemen  he 
was  a  gentleman  always.     He  had  no  bad  habits  at  that 


U4>  VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

time.  Men  who  were  brought  in  daily  contact  with  him, 
during  his  period  of  service,  say  that  they  never  saw  hira 
affected  by  liquor.  He  was  generous,  warmly  attached  to 
his  friends,  and  happy  in  his  family.  He  was  of  a  lively, 
cheerful  temperament,  full  of  anecdote  and  wit,  a  pleasant 
companion,  whose  personal  magnetism  attached  his  friends 
to  him  with  hooks  of  steel. 

Many  jarring  and  discordant  incidents  disfigured  this 
flattering  foreground  in  Slade's  border  life,  but  there  was 
only  one  which  gave  it  a  sanguine  hue.  That  in  all  its 
parts,  and  from  the  very  first,  has  been  so  tortured  and 
perverted  in  the  telling,  that  persons  perfectly  familiar 
with  all  its  details  do  not  hesitate  to  pronounce  every  pub- 
lished version  a  falsehood.  I  have  the  narrative  from 
truthful  men,  personally  familiar  with  all  the  facts. 

Among  the  ranchemen  with  whom  Slade  early  com- 
menced to  deal  was  one  Jules  Reni,  a  Canadian  French- 
man. He  was  a  representative  man  of  his  class,  and  that 
class  embraced  nearly  all  the  people  scattered  along  the 
road.  They  regarded  him  as  their  leader  and  adviser,  and 
he  was  proud  of  the  position.  He  espoused  their  quarrels 
with  outsiders,  and  reconciled  all  differences  occurring 
among  themselves.  In  this  way,  he  exercised  the  power  of 
a  chief  over  the  class,  and  maintained  a  rustic  dignity, 
which  commanded  respect  within  the  sphere  of  its  influ- 
ence. Jules  and  Slade  had  frequent  collisions,  which  gen- 
erally originated  in  some  real  or  supposed  encroachment 
by  the  latter  upon  the  dignity  or  importance  of  the  former. 
They  always  arose  from  trivial  causes,  and  were  forgot- 
ten by  Slade  as  soon  as  over;  but  Jules  treasured  them 
up  until  the  account  against  his  rival  became  too  heavy  to 
be  borne.  A  serious  quarrel,  in  which  threats  were  ex- 
changed, was  the  consequence.  If  Slade  had  treasured  up 
any  vicious  memory  of  this  difficulty,  no  evidence  of  it  was 
apparent  when  he  afterwards  met  Jules.     Thev  accosted 


JOSEPH  A.  SLADE  445 

each  other  with  usual  courtesy,  and  soon  fell  into  a 
friendly  conversation,  in  which  others  standing  by  par- 
ticipated. Both  were  seated  at  the  time  on  the  fence 
fronting  the  station.  At  length  Jules  left  and  entered  his 
house,  and  a  moment  afterwards  Slade  followed.  Slade 
was  unarmed.  He  had  gone  but  a  few  rods,  when  one  of 
the  men  he  had  just  left,  in  a  tone  of  alarm,  cried  to 
him, 

"Look  out,  Slade,  Jules  is  going  to  shoot  you!  " 

As  Slade  turned  to  obey  the  summons,  he  received  the 
bullet  from  Julcs's  revolver.  Five  shots  from  the  pistol 
were  fired  in  instant  succession,  and  then  Jules,  who  was 
standing  in  the  door  of  his  cabin,  took  a  shotgun  which 
was  within  reach,  and  emptied  its  contents  into  the  body 
of  Slade,  who  was  facing  him  when  he  fell.  Slade  was 
carried  into  the  station,  and  placed  in  a  bunk,  with  bul- 
lets and  buck-shot  to  the  number  of  thirteen  lodged  in  his 
person.  No  one  who  witnessed  the  attack  supposed  he 
could  survive  an  hour.  Jules  was  so  well  satisfied  that  he 
was  slain,  that  in  a  short  time  afterwards  he  said  to  some 
person  near,  in  the  hearing  of  Slade,  "  When  he  is  dead, 
you  can  put  him  in  one  of  these  dry-goods  boxes,  and  bury 
him." 

Slade  rose  in  his  bunk,  and  glaring  out  upon  Jules, 
who  was  standing  in  front  of  the  station,  exclaimed  with 
an  oath,  "  I  shall  live  long  enough  to  wear  one  of  your 
ears  on  my  watch-guard.  You  need  n't  trouble  yourself 
about  my  burial." 

In  the  midst  of  the  excitement  occasioned  by  the  shoot- 
ing, the  overland  coach  arrived,  bringing  the  superintend- 
ent of  the  road.  Finding  Slade  writhing  in  mortal  agony, 
he,  on  hearing  the  nature  of  the  assault,  caused  Jules  to 
be  arrested,  and  improvised  a  scaffold  for  his  immediate 
execution.  Three  times  was  Jules  drawn  up  by  willing 
hands  and  strangled  until  he  was  black  in  the  face.     On 


446   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

letting  him  down  the  last  time,  the  superintendent,  upon 
his  promise  to  leave  the  country,  ordered  his  release.  He 
left  inmiediately. 

Slade  lingered  for  several  weeks  at  the  station,  and 
finally  went  to  St.  Louis  for  treatment.  As  soon  as  he 
was  sufficiently  recovered,  he  returned  to  his  division, 
with  eight  remaining  bullets  in  his  body.  The  only  senti- 
ment of  all,  except  the  personal  friends  of  Jules,  was, 
that  this  attack  upon  Slade,  as  brutal  as  it  was  unpro- 
voked, should  be  avenged.  Slade  must  improve  the  first 
opportunity  to  kill  Jules.  This  was  deemed  right  and 
just.  In  no  other  way  could  he,  in  the  parlance  of  the 
country,  get  even  with  him.  Slade  determined  to  kill 
Jules  upon  sight,  but  not  to  go  out  of  his  way  to  meet 
him.  Indeed,  he  sent  him  word  to  that  effect,  and  warned 
him  against  a  return  to  his  division. 

Jules,  in  the  meantime,  had  been  buying  and  selling 
cattle  in  some  parts  of  Colorado.  Soon  after  Slade's  re- 
turn to  his  division,  Jules  followed,  for  the  ostensible  pur-  ■ 
pose  of  getting  some  cattle  that  he  owned,  which  were 
running  at  large;  but  his  real  object,  as  lie  everywhere 
boasted  on  his  journey,  was  to  kill  Slade.  This  threat  was 
circulated  far  and  wide  through  the  country,  coupled  witii 
the  announcement  that  Jules  was  on  his  return  to  the  di- 
vision to  carry  it  into  speedy  execution.  He  exhibited  a 
pistol  of  a  peculiar  pattern,  as  the  instrument  designed 
for  Slade's  destruction. 

Slade  first  heard  of  Jules's  approach  and  threat  at  m 
Pacific  Springs,  the  west  end  of  his  division,  just  as  he 
was  about  leaving  to  return  to  Julesburg.  At  every  sta- 
tion on  that  long  route  of  six  hundred  miles,  he  was 
warned  by  different  persons  of  the  bloody  purpose  wjiich 
Jules  was  returning  to  accomplish.  Knowing  the  desper- 
ate character  of  the  man  witli  whom  he  had  to  deal,  and 
that  the  threats  he  had  niadi"  were  serious,  Slade  resolvod 


J 


JOSEPH  A.  SLADE  447 

to  counsel  with  the  officers  in  command  at  Fort  Laramie, 
and  follow  their  advice.  On  his  arrival  at  that  post  he 
laid  the  subject  before  them.  They  were  perfectly  famil- 
iar with  former  difficulties  between  Slade  and  Jules,  and 
the  treacherous  attack  of  the  latter  upon  the  former. 
They  advised  him  to  secure  the  person  of  Jules,  and  kill 
him.  Unless  he  did  so,  the  chances  were  he  would  be  killed 
himself;  and  in  any  event,  there  could  be  no  peace  on  his 
division  while  Jules  lived,  as  he  was  evidently  determined 
to  shoot  him  on  sight.  Slade  had  been  informed  that 
Jules  had  passed  the  preceding  night  at  Bordeaux's 
ranche,  a  stage  station  about  twelve  miles  distant  from 
the  fort,  and  had  repeated  his  threats,  exhibited  his  pistol, 
and  declared  his  intention  of  lying  in  wait  at  some  point 
on  the  road  until  Slade  should  appear. 

When  Slade  was  told  of  this,  he  hesitated  no  longer  to 
follow  the  advice  he  had  received.  Four  men  were  sent  on 
horseback  in  advance  of  him  to  capture  Jules  and  disarm 
him.  Soon  after  they  left,  Slade,  in  company  with  a  friend, 
followed  in  the  coach.  Jules  had  left  Bordeaux's  before 
his  arrival,  but  the  story  of  the  threats  he  had  uttered 
there,  was  confirmed  by  Bordeaux,  who,  when  the  coach 
departed,  took  a  seat  in  it,  carrying  with  him  a  small 
armory  of  guns  and  pistols.  It  was  apparent  that  the  old 
man,  whose  interest  was  with  the  winner  in  the  fight,  which- 
ever he  might  be,  was  prepared  to  embrace  his  cause,  in 
case  of  after  disturbance. 

As  the  coach  approached  the  next  station,  at  Chansau's 
ranche,  with  Slade  as  the  driver,  two  of  the  four  men  sent 
to  secure  Jules  were  seen  riding  towards  it  at  a  spanking 
pace.  Slade  and  his  friends  at  once  concluded  that  they 
had  failed  in  their  designs,  but  the  shouts  of  the  men  who 
swung  their  hats  as  they  passed  the  coach  reassured  them, 
and  Slade  drove  rapidly  up  in  front  of  the  station.  Jump- 
ing from  the  box,  he  walked  hurriedly  to  the  door.     There 


448  VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

were  several  persons  standing  near,  all,  as  was  customary, 
armed  with  pistol  and  knife.  Sladc  drew  the  pistol  from 
the  belt  of  one  standing  in  the  doorway,  and  glancing 
hastily  to  see  that  it  was  loaded,  said, — "  I  want  this."  He 
then  came  out,  and  at  a  rapid  stride  went  to  the  corral  in 
rear  of  the  station  where  Jules  was  a  prisoner.  As  soon 
as  he  came  in  sight  of  him,  he  fired  his  pistol,  intending  to 
hit  him  between  the  eyes,  but  he  had  aimed  too  low,  and 
the  ball  struck  him  in  the  mouth,  and  glanced  off  without 
causing  material  injury.  Jules  fell  upon  his  back,  and 
simulated  the  mortal  agony  so  well  that  for  a  few  mo- 
ments the  people  supposed  the  wound  was  fatal.  Slade 
discovered  the  deception  at  a  glance. 

"  I  have  not  hurt  you,"  said  he,  "  and  no  deception  is 
necessary.  I  have  determined  to  kill  you,  but  having  failed 
in  this  shot,  I  will  now,  if  you  wish  it,  give  you  time  to 
make  your  will." 

Jules  replied  that  he  should  like  to  do  so ;  and  a  gentle- 
man who  was  awaiting  the  departure  of  the  coach  volun- 
teered to  draw  it  up  for  him.  The  inconvenience  of 
walking  back  and  forth  from  the  corral  to  the  station, 
through  the  single  entrance  in  front  of  the  latter,  made 
this  a  protracted  service.  The  will  was  finally  completed 
and  read  to  Jules.  He  expressed  himself  satisfied  with  it, 
and  the  drawer  of  it  went  to  the  station  to  get  a  pen  and 
ink,  with  which  he  could  sign  It.  When  he  returned  a 
moment  afterwards,  Jules  was  dead.  Slade  had  shot  him 
in  the  head  during  that  temporary  absence. 

Slade  went  to  Fort  Laramie  and  surrendered  himself  a 
prisoner  to  the  officer  in  command.  Military  authority 
was  the  only  law  of  the  country,  and  though  tills  action  of 
Slade  may  have  a  farcical  appearance  when  taken  In  con- 
sideration with  the  circumstances  preceding  it,  yet  it  was 
all  that  he  could  do  to  signify  his  desire  for  an  Investiga- 
tion.    The  officers  of  the  fort,  familiar  with  all  the  facts, 


I 


JOSEPH  A.  SLADE  449 

discharged  him,  with  their  unanimous  approval  of  the 
course  lie  had  pursued.  The  French  friends  of  Jules  never 
harmed  him.  The  whole  suhject  was  carefully  investi- 
gated by  the  stage  company,  which,  as  the  best  evidence 
it  could  give  of  approval,  continued  Slade  in  its  employ. 

This  is  the  history  of  the  quarrel  between  Slade  and 
Jules  Reni,  as  I  have  received  it  from  a  gentleman  familiar 
with  all  its  phases  from  its  commencement  to  its  close. 
The  aggravated  form  in  which  the  narrative  has  been  laid 
before  the  public,  charging  Slade  with  having  tied  his  vic- 
tim to  a  tree,  and  firing  at  him  at  different  times  during 
the  day,  taunting  him  meantime,  and  subjecting  him  to  a 
great  variety  of  torture,  before  killing  him,  is  false  in 
ever}'  particular.  Jules  Avas  not  only  the  first,  but  the 
most  constant  aggressor.  In  a  community  favored  with 
laws  and  an  organized  police,  Slade  would  not  have  been 
justified  in  the  course  he  pursued,  yet,  under  our  most 
favored  institutions,  more  flagrant  cases  than  this  daily 
escape  conviction.  In  the  situation  he  accepted,  an  active 
business  man,  intrusted  with  duties  which  required  con- 
stant exposure  of  his  person  both  night  and  day,  what 
else  could  he  do,  to  save  his  own  life,  than  kill  the  person 
who  threatened  and  sought  an  opportunity  to  take  it? 
Law  would  not  protect  him.  The  promise  which  Jules 
had  made  with  the  halter  about  his  neck,  to  leave  the  coun- 
try, did  not  prevent  his  return  to  avenge  himself  upon 
Slade.  It  was  impossible  to  avoid  a  collision  with  him; 
and  to  kill  him  under  such  circumstances  was  as  clear  an 
act  of  self-defence,  as  if,  in  a  civilized  community,  he  had 
been  slain  by  his  adversary  with  his  pistol  at  his  heart. 

Slade's  career,  relieved  from  the  infamy  of  this  trans- 
action, presents  no  feature  for  severe  public  condemna- 
tion, until  several  years  after  its  occurrence.  He  retained 
his  position  as  division  agent,  discharging  his  duties  ac- 
ceptably, and  was,  in  fact,  regarded  by  the  company  as 


450  VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

their  most  efficient  man.  When  the  route  was  changed 
from  Laramie  to  the  Cherokee  Trail,  he  removed  liis  head- 
(juarters  to  a  beautiful  nook  in  the  Black  Hills,  which  he 
named  Virginia  Dale,  after  his  wife,  whom  he  loved  fondly. 

His  position  as  division  agent  often  involved  him  un- 
avoidably in  difficulty  with  ranchemcn  and  saloon-keepers. 
At  one  time,  after  the  violation  of  a  second  request  to  sell 
no  liquor  to  his  employees,  Slade  riddled  a  wayside  saloon, 
and  poured  the  liquor  into  the  street.  On  another  occa- 
sion, seemingly  without  provocation,  he  and  his  men  took 
possession  of  the  sutler's  quarters  at  Fort  Halleck,  and  so 
conducted  themselves  as  to  excite  the  animosity  of  the 
officers  of  the  garrison,  who  determined  to  punish  him  for 
the  outrage.  Following  him  in  the  coach  to  Denver,  they 
arrested  and  would  not  release  him,  until  the  company 
assured  them  he  should  leave  the  division. 

This  threw  him  out  of  employment,  and  he  went  innne- 
diateiy  to  Carlisle,  Illinois,  whence,  early  in  the  Spring  of 
1863,  he  drifted  with  the  tide  of  emigration  to  the  Beaver- 
head mines.  As  with  all  men  of  ardent  temperament,  his 
habits  of  drinking,  by  long  indulgence,  had  passed  by 
his  control.  He  was  subject  to  fits  of  occasional  intoxi- 
cation, and  these,  unfortunately,  became  so  frequent  that 
seldom  a  week  passed  unmarked  b}'  the  occurrence  of  one 
or  more  scenes  of  riot,  in  which  he  was  the  chief  actor. 
IJquor  enkindled  all  the  evil  elements  of  his  volcanic  na- 
ture. He  was  as  reckless  and  ungovernable  as  a  maniac 
under  its  influence,  but  even  those  who  had  suffered  out- 
rage at  his  hands  during  these  explosive  periods,  were  dis- 
armed of  hostility  by  his  gentle,  amiable  deportment,  and 
readiness  always  to  make  reparation  on  the  return  of  so- 
briety. His  fits  of  rowdyism,  moreover,  always  left  him 
a  determined  business  man,  with  an  aim  and  purpose  in 
life.  As  a  remarkable  manifestation  of  this  latter  quality, 
soon   after  he   went    to   Montana,   a   steamboat    freighted 


JOSEPH  A.  SLADE  451 

with  goods  from  St.  Louis,  unable  from  low  water  to 
ascend  the  ^Missouri  to  Fort  Benton,  had  discharged  her 
cargo  at  i\Iilk  River,  in  a  country  filled  with  hostile  In- 
dians ;  and  Slade  was  the  only  man  to  be  found  in  the 
mines  willing  to  encounter  the  risk  of  carrying  the  goods 
by  teams  to  their  place  of  destination  in  the  Territory. 
The  distance  was  seven  hundred  miles,  full  half  of  which 
was  unmarked  by  a  road.  The  several  bands  of  the  Black- 
feet  occupied  the  country  on  the  north,  and  the  Crows, 
Gros-Ventres,  and  Sioux  on  the  south.  Slade  collected 
a  company  of  teamsters,  led  them  to  the  spot,  and  returned 
safely  with  the  goods,  meeting  with  adventures  enough  on 
the  way  to  fill  a  volume. 

After  the  discovery  of  Alder  Gulch,  Slade  went  to  Vir- 
ginia City.  It  was  there  that  I  first  met  him.  Slade  came 
with  a  team  to  my  lumber-yard,  and  selecting  from  the 
piles  a  quantity  of  long  boards,  directed  the  teamsters  to 
load  and  take  them  away.  After  the  men  had  started  with 
the  load,  Slade  asked  me, 

"  How  long  credit  will  you  give  me  on  this  purchase?  " 

"  About  as  long  as  it  will  take  to  weigh  the  dust,"  I 
replied. 

He  remarked  good-humoredly,  "  That 's  played  out." 

*'  As  I  can  buy  for  cash  only,  I  must  of  necessity  re- 
quire immediate  payment  on  all  sales,"  I  said,  by  way  of 
explanation. 

Slade  immediately  called  to  the  teamster  to  return  and 
unload  the  lumber,  remarking,  as  soon  as  it  was  replaced 
upon  the  piles, 

"  Well,  I  can't  get  along  without  the  boards  anyhow ; 
load  them  up  again." 

The  man  obeyed  and  left  again  with  the  load,  Slade 
insisting,  as  before,  that  he  must  have  time  to  pay  for  It, 
and  I  as  earnest  in  the  demand  for  immediate  payment. 
The  teamster  returned  and  unloaded  a  second  time. 


452   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

"  I  must  and  will  have  the  lumber,"  said  Slade ;  and 
the  teamster,  b}'  his  direction,  was  proceeding  to  reload 
it  a  third  time,  when  I  forbade  his  doing  so,  until  it  was 
paid  for. 

Our  conversation  now,  without  being  angr^',  became  very 
earnest,  and  I  fully  explained  why  I  could  not  sell  to  any 
man  upon  credit. 

"  Oh,  well,"  said  he,  with  a  significant  toss  of  the  head, 
"  I  guess  you  '11  let  me  have  it." 

"  Certainly  not,"  I  replied.  "  Why  should  I  let  you 
have  it  sooner  than  another.''  " 

"  Then  I  guess  you  don't  know  who  I  am,"  he  quickly 
rejoined,  fixing  his  keen  dark  eyes  on  me. 

"  No,  I  don't ;  but  if  1  did,  it  could  make  no  differ- 
ence." 

"  Well,"  he  continued,  in  an  authoritative  tone  and  man- 
ner, "  my  name  is  Slade." 

It  so  happened  that  I  had  never  heard  of  him,  being 
wholly  engrossed  with  business,  so  I   replied,  laughingly, 

"  I  don't  know  now,  any  better  than  before." 

"  You  must  have  heard  of  Slade  of  the  Overland." 

"  Never  before,"  I  said. 

The  reply  seemed  to  annoy  him.  He  gave  me  a  look 
of  mingled  doubt  and  wonder,  which,  had  it  taken  the 
form  of  words,  would  have  said,  "  You  are  either  trying 
to  fool  me,  or  are  yourself  a  fool."  No  doubt  he  thought 
it  strange  that  I  should  never  have  heard  of  a  man  who 
had  been  so  conspicuous  in  mountain  history. 

"  Well,"  he  said,  "  if  you  do  not  know  me,  ask  any  of 
the  boys  who  I  am,  and  they  will  inform  you.  I  'm  go- 
ing to  have  this  lumber;  that  is  dead  sure,"  and  with  an 
air  of  much  importance,  he  moved  to  a  group  of  eight  or 
ten  men  that  had  just  come  out  of  Skinner's  saloon,  all 
of  whom  were  attnrhi's  of  his.  "  Come,  boys,"  said  he, 
'*  load  up  the  wagon." 


JOSEPH  A.  SLADE  458 

Several  of  my  friends  were  standing  near,  and  the  mat- 
ter between  us  liad  fully  ripened  for  a  conflict.  At  this 
moment,  John  Kly,  an  old  friend,  elbowed  his  way  through 
the  crowd,  and  learning  the  cause  of  the  difficulty,  told  me 
to  let  Slade  have  the  lumber,  and  he  would  see  that  I  was 
paid  the  next  day.  I  readily  consented.  Ely  then  took 
me  aside  and  informed  me  of  the  desperate  character  of 
Slade,  and  advised  me  to  avoid  him,  as  he  was  drunk,  and 
would  certainly  shoot  me  at  our  next  meeting. 

Early  in  the  evening  of  the  same  day,  Slade,  instigated 
by  the  demon  of  whiskey,  provoked  a  fight  with  Jack 
Gallagher,  which,  had  not  bystanders  disarmed  the  com- 
batants, would  have  had  a  fatal  termination.  Soon  after 
this  was  over  I  saw  him  enter  the  California  Exchange, 
accompanied  by  two  friends  whom  he  invited  to  drink  with 
him.  When  in  the  act  of  raising  their  glasses,  Slade  drew 
back  his  powerful  arm  and  struck  the  one  nearest  him  a 
violent  blow  on  the  forehead.  He  fell  heavily  to  the  floor. 
Slade  left  immediately,  and  the  man,  being  raised,  recov- 
ered consciousness  and  disappeared.  Slade  returned  in  a 
few  moments  with  another  friend  whom  he  asked  to  drink, 
and  struck  down.  Again  he  went  out,  and  soon  came  in 
with  another  whom  he  attempted  to  serve  in  the  same  man- 
ner, but  this  man  rose  immediately  to  his  feet.  Slade  was 
foiled  by  the  interference  of  bystanders,  in  the  attempt  to 
strike  him  again.  Turning  on  his  heel,  his  eye  caught 
mine.  I  was  standing  a  few  feet  from  him  by  the  wall. 
He  advanced  rapidly  towards  me,  and,  expecting  an  as- 
sault, I  assumed  a  posture  of  defence.  Greatly  to  my 
surprise,  he  accosted  me  civilly,  and  throwing  his  arm 
around  me,  said  jocosely, 

"  Old  fellow !     You  did  n't  think  I  was  going  to  cheat 
you  out  of  that  lumber,  did  you?  " 

He  then  asked  me  to  drink.     I  respectfully  declined. 

"  It 's  all  right,"  said  he,  and  walked  away. 


454   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

I  met  him  afterwards  several  times  during  the  evening, 
but  he  said  nothing  more. 

Nine  years  after  these  occurrences,  in  July,  18T2,  I 
went  from  Helena  to  Fort  Hall  by  coach,  to  accompany 
the  United  States  Geological  Survey,  under  charge  of  Dr. 
Haydcn,  to  the  National  Park.  Dan  Johnson,  the  driver 
from  Snake  River  to  the  fort,  being  unwell,  and  having 
a  vicious  horse  in  his  team,  asked  my  assistance,  and  I 
drove  for  him  to  the  station.  We  fell  into  a  desultory 
conversation,  and  Dan's  reserve  wearing  off,  he  gave  me 
a  look  of  recognition  from  under  the  broad  rim  of  his  hat, 
abruptly  exclaiming, 

"  If  I  'm  not  nmch  mistaken,  I  've  seen  your  face  be- 
fore." 

"  Very  likely.     I  'vc  passed  over  the  line  many  times." 

"  That 's  not  it.  It 's  a  long  time  since  I  have  seen 
you,  and  I  have  got  you  mixed  up  with  some  old  recollec- 
tions of  Virginia  City,  as  long  ago  as  1803." 

"  I  was  there  a  good  portion  of  the  time  during  the 
Fall  of  that  year." 

"Just  as  I  thought,"  he  replied;  "  3'ou 're  the  very 
man  who  sold  the  lumber  to  Slade.  We  bo3's  thouglit 
Slade  would  shoot  you,  when  you  refused  to  trust  him 
for  the  boards.  He  came  pretty  near  doing  it,  and  it 
wa'n't  a  bit  like  him  not  to.  I  was  one  of  the  teamsters 
then,  and  we  all  expected  a  big  row  about  it,  and  stood 
by,  ready  to  pitch  in.  I  ain't  tliat  kind  of  a  man  now, 
but  things  were  different  then,  and  an^'body  that  worked 
for  Slade,  if  he  wished  to  escape  being  shot,  had  to  stand 
by  him  in  a  fight.  I  never  knew  wliy  Slade  did  n't  shoot 
you,  but  there  was  never  any  telling  what  he  would  do, 
and  what  he  wouldn't.  Sometimes  it  was  one  thing  and 
sometimes  another,  just  as  the  notion  took  him;  but  if  he 
ever  was  put  down  by  a  nmn,  wliieh  was  n't  often,  he  al- 
wavs    seemed    to    remember    it.    and    was    civil    to    him 


JOSEPH  A.  SLADE  455 

afterwards.  You  were  in  mighty  big  luck  to  get  out  of 
the  scrape  as  you  did." 

In  illustration  of  this  latter  peculiarity,  an  incident 
is  related  of  Slade,  which  occurred  during  that  portion  of 
his  life  passed  on  the  Overland  Stage  route.  He  and  one 
Bob  Scott,  a  somewhat  noted  man  of  the  time,  had  become 
interested  in  a  set-to  at  poker ;  game  followed  game,  and 
drink  followed  drink.  Both  were  exhilarated  by  liquor, 
bets  grew  larger,  and  finally  in  one  game  each  had 
'•  raised "  the  other  till  Slade's  money  was  exhausted. 
Slade  pointed  to  the  piles  of  coin  heaped  upon  the  table, 
exclaiming, 

"'  Bob,  that  money  belongs  to  me." 

"  It  does  if  the  cards  say  so,"  said  Bob,  "  not  other- 
wise." 

"  Perhaps,"  rejoined  Slade,  "  my  cards  are  not  better 
than  yours ;  but,"  drawing  his  revolver  and  pointing  it  at 
Scott,  "  my  hand  is^ 

Scott  glanced  at  him  with  amazement,  and  for  a  mo- 
ment both  parties  were  silent.  At  length  Slade  reached 
forward  to  pull  down  the  pile  of  double  eagles  and  trans- 
fer them  to  his  pocket,  when,  with  the  quickness  of  light- 
ning, Scott  pushed  aside  the  pistol  with  one  hand,  and 
dealt  his  antagonist  a  stunning  blow  between  the  eyes 
with  the  other.  Slade  fell,  and  Scott  fell  on  him,  and  gave 
him  a  severe  drubbing,  only  permitting  him  to  rise  on  his 
promising  to  behave  himself. 

The  game  was  renewed  and  no  reference  made  to  the 
fight,  until  Slade,  thoroughly  sobered,  quietly  remarked, 

"  Well,  Bob,  if  you  'd  pounded  me  about  two  minutes 
longer,  I  'd  have  got  sober  sooner." 

Soon  after  he  came  to  Virginia  City,  Slade  located  a 
ranche  on  the  margin  of  Meadow  Creek,  twelve  miles  dis- 
tant, and  built  a  small  stone  house  in  one  of  the  wildest 
dells  of  the  overhanging  mountain.     This  lonely  dwelling. 


4">(;  VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

seldom  visited  by  him,  was  occupied  solely  by  his  wife, 
who  fittingly  typified  the  genius  of  that  majestic  solitude 
over  which  she  presided.  This  ill-fated  lady  was  at  this 
time  in  the  prime  of  health  and  beauty.  She  possessed 
many  personal  attractions.  Her  figure  was  queenly,  and 
her  movements  the  perfection  of  grace.  Her  countenance 
was  lit  up  by  a  pair  of  burning  black  eyes,  and  her  hair, 
black  as  the  raven's  wing,  fell  in  rich  curls  over  her  shoul- 
ders. She  was  of  powerful  organization,  and  having 
passed  her  life  upon  the  borders,  knew  how  to  use  the  rifie 
and  revolver,  and  could  perform  as  many  dexterous  feats 
in  the  saddle  as  the  boldest  hunter  that  roamed  the  plains. 
Secure  in  the  affection  of  her  husband,  she  devoted  her 
life  to  his  interests,  and  participated  in  all  the  joys  and 
sorrows  of  his  checkered  career.  While  he  lived,  she  knew 
no  heavier  grief  than  his  irregularities.  In  his  wildest 
moments  of  passion  and  violence,  Slade  dearly  loved  his 
wife.  Liquor  and  license  never  made  him  forgetful  of  her 
happiness,  nor  poisoned  the  love  she  bore  for  him. 

The  frequent  and  inexcusable  acts  of  violence  committed 
by  Slade  made  him  the  terror  of  the  country.  His  friends 
warned  him  of  the  consequences,  but  he  disregarded  their 
advice,  or  if  possible  behaved  the  worse  for  it.  It  was 
an  invariable  custom  with  him  when  intoxicated,  to  mount 
his  horse  and  ride  through  the  main  street,  driving  into 
each  saloon  as  he  came  to  it,  firing  at  the  lamps,  breaking 
the  glasses,  throwing  the  gold  scales  into  the  street,  or 
coinniitting  other  acts  equally  destructive  and  vicious,  and 
seldom  unaccompanied  by  deeds  of  personal  violence  as 
unprovoked  as  they  were  wanton  and  cruel.  People  soon 
tirod  of  pecuniary  reparation  and  gentlemanly  apologies 
for  a  course  of  brutality,  which,  sooner  or  later,  they  fore- 
saw must  culminate  in  outrage  and  bloodshed.  All  the 
respect  they  entertained  for  Slade  when  sober,  was  changed 
into  fear  when  he  was  drunk;  and  rntlur  than  offend  one 


JOSEPH  A.  SLADE  457 

so  reckless  of  all  civil  restraint,  they  closed  and  locked 
their  doors  at  his  approach.  In  the  absence  of  law,  the 
people,  after  the  execution  of  Helm,  Gallagher,  and  their 
associates,  established  a  voluntary  tribunal,  for  the  pun- 
ishment of  offenders  against  the  peace,  which  was  known 
as  the  People's  Court.  It  possessed  all  the  requisites  for 
trial  of  a  constitutional  court;  and  its  judgment  had  never 
been  disputed.  Alexander  Davis,  a  lawyer  of  good  at- 
tainments in  his  profession,  and  a  man  of  exemplary 
character,  was  the  judge.  Slade  had  been  often  arrested 
and  fined  by  this  tribunal,  and  always  obeyed  its  decrees, 
but  an  occasion  came  when  he  refused  longer  to  do  so, 
and  treated  its  process  and  officers  with  contempt. 

He  was  arrested  one  morning  after  a  night  of  riot  and 
violence.  He  and  his  companions  had  made  the  town  a 
scene  of  uproar  and  confusion.  Every  saloon  in  it  bore 
evidence  of  their  drunken  mischief  and  lawlessness.  They 
were  taken  before  Judge  Davis,  who  ordered  the  sheriff  to 
read  the  writ  to  them,  by  way  of  an  arraignment.  Fair- 
weather,  one  of  Slade's  comrades,  placed  his  right  hand  on 
his  revolver  and  with  his  left  hand  menacingly  snatched  the 
writ  from  the  sheriff  before  it  was  half  read,  and  tearing  it 
in  twain,  cast  the  pieces  angrily  upon  the  floor  and  ground 
them  under  his  feet. 

"  Go  in.  Bill,"  said  Slade,  addressing  him  and  drawing 
his  revolver,  "  I  am  with  you.  We  '11  teach  this  volunteer 
court  what  its  law  is  worth  anyhow." 

The  sheriff,  who  probably  entertained  Falstaffian  ideas 
of  valor,  made  no  resistance,  and  the  court  was  thus  vir- 
tually captured.  This  transaction  roused  the  Vigilantes, 
who  had  only  been  prevented  from  summarily  punishing 
Slade  on  several  occasions  during  the  previous  three 
months  at  the  earnest  intercessions  of  P.  S.  Pfouts,  Major 
Brookie,  and  Judge  Davis.  The  two  first  named  of  those 
gentlemen  now  abandoned  him.     A  large  number  of  the 


458   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

Committee  assembled,  and  while  they  were  engaged  in 
council,  a  leading  member  sought  out  Slade,  and  in  an 
earnest,  quiet  tone  said  to  him, 

"  Slade,  get  your  horse  at  once  and  go  home,  or  you 
will  have  serious  trouble." 

Slade,  himself  a  member  of  the  \'igilantL's,  startled  into 
momentary  sobriety  by  this  sudden  warning,  quickly  in- 
quired, 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?  " 

"  You  have  no  right  to  ask  me  what  I  mean.  Get  your 
horse  at  once,  and  remember  what  I  tell  you." 

"All  right,"  he  replied;  "I  will  follow  your  advice." 

A  few  moments  afterwards  he  made  his  appearance  on 
horseback,  to  obey,  as  his  friend  supposed,  the  warning 
he  had  given  him ;  but,  seeing  some  of  his  comrades  stand- 
ing near,  he  became  again  uproarious,  and  seemed  by  his 
conduct  to  ignore  the  promise  he  had  made.  Seeking  for 
Judge  Davis,  whom  he  found  in  the  store  of  Pfouts  and 
Russell,  he  interrupted  him  while  conversing  with  John 
S.  Lott. 

"  I  hear,"  said  he,  addressing  him,  "  that  they  are  go- 
ing to  arrest  me." 

"  Go  home,  Slade,"  said  Davis ;  "  go  at  once,  and  behave 
yourself,  and  you  may  yet  escape." 

"  No,"  he  replied,  "  you  are  now  my  prisoner.  I  will 
hold  you  as  a  hostage  for  my  own  safety." 

"  All  right,  Slade,"  said  the  judge,  smiling,  and  still 
continuing  to  converse  with  Lott. 

"  Oh,  I  mean  it,"  replied  Slade  with  an  oath,  pulling  a 
derringer  from  his  pocket  and  aiming  it  at  Davis. 

William  Hunt,  who  had  been  nn  eyewitness  of  these 
proceeding^  now  stepped  up,  and,  facing  Slade  defiantly, 
said  to  him, 

"  You  are  not  going  to  hurt  him.  He  can  do  and  act 
as  he  pleases,  and  don't  you  dare  to  touch  him." 


JOSEPH  A.  SLADE  459 

Slade  made  some  careless  rejoinder. 

"Skde,"  said  Hunt,  "if  I'd  been  sheriff,  the  first 
thing  I  would  have  done  when  I  got  up  this  morning  would 
have  been  to  arrest  you.  By  that  means  1  would  have 
saved  your  life,  probably  prevented  bloodshed,  and  we 
would  have  had  a  quiet  town  to-day." 

"  We  had  better  make  you  sheriff,  then,"  replied  Slade. 

"No,  I  have  no  wish  for  it;  but  if  I  were,  I  have  got 
nerve  enough  to  arrest  you,  and  would  certainly  have  done 
so." 

"  Well,  well,"  said  Slade,  now  thoroughly  quieted,  "  let 
us  go  out  and  get  a  drink." 

The  two  men  left  the  store.  In  a  few  moments  Slade 
returned,  and,  approaching  Davis,  said, 

"  I  was  too  fast.  I  ask  your  pardon  for  my  conduct, 
and  hope  you  will  overlook  it." 

In  the  meantime  the  Vigilantes,  undetermined  what 
course  to  pursue,  had  sent  a  request  to  their  brethren  at 
Nevada  to  join  in  their  deliberations.  Six  hundred  armed 
miners  obeyed  the  summons,  sending  their  leader  in  ad- 
vance to  inform  the  Executive  Committee  that,  in  their 
judgment,  Slade  should  be  executed.  The  Committee,  un- 
willing to  recommend  this  measure,  finally  agreed  that,  if 
unanimously  adopted,  it  should  be  enforced. 

Alarmed  at  the  gathering  of  the  people,  Slade  again 
sought  the  presence  of  Judge  Davis,  to  repeat  his  apolo- 
gies and  regrets  for  the  violence  of  his  conduct.  He  was 
now  perfectly  sobered,  and  fully  comprehended  the  effect 
of  his  lawlessness  upon  the  community.  The  column  of 
Vigilantes  from  Nevada  halted  in  front  of  the  store,  and 
the  executive  officer  stepped  forward  and  arrested  Slade. 

"  The  Committee,"  said  he,  addressing  him,  "  have  de- 
cided upon  your  execution.  If  you  have  any  business  to 
settle,  you  must  attend  to  it  immediately." 

"  My  execution  !  my  death  !     My  God  !  gentlemen,  you 


460   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

will  not  proceed  to  such  extremities !  The  Committee 
cannot  have  decreed  this." 

"  It  is  even  so,  and  you  had  better  at  once  give  the  little 
time  left  you  to  arranging  your  business." 

This  appalling  repetition  of  the  sentence  of  the  Com- 
mittee seemed  to  deprive  him  of  every  vestige  of  manliness 
and  courage.  He  fell  upon  his  knees,  and  with  clasped 
hands  shuffled  over  the  floor  from  one  to  another  of  those 
Mho  had  been  his  friends,  begging  for  his  life.  Clasping 
the  hands  of  Judge  Davis  and  Captain  Williams,  he  im- 
plored tiiem  for  mercy,  mingling  with  his  appeals,  prayers 
and  promises,  and  requests  that  liis  wife  might  be  sent  for. 
"  My  God!  my  God!  must  I  die.''  Oh,  my  dear  wife!  why 
can  she  not  be  sent  for.''  "  were  repeated  in  the  most  heart- 
rending accents. 

Judge  Davis  alone  stood  by  the  unhappy  man  in  this  his 
great  extremity,  and  tried  to  save  liis  life.  He  conversed 
with  several  leaders  of  the  Committee,  suggesting  that 
they  should  substitute  banishment  for  death.  But  the 
people  were  implacable.  Slade's  life  among  them  had 
been  violent,  lawless,  desperate.  No  brigand  was  more 
dreaded  by  all  who  knew  him;  and  the  speech  which,  at  the 
foot  of  the  gallows,  Davis  addressed  to  the  crowd  in  his 
behalf,  fell  like  water  upon  adamant.  There  was  no  mercy 
left  for  one  who  had  so  often  forfeited  all  claims  to  mercy. 
Yet  there  were  a  few  men,  even  among  those  who  had 
doomed  this  man  to  death,  that  would  have  given  all  they 
possessed  to  save  his  life.  They  could  not  witness  his 
execution;  and  some  of  them,  stout  of  heart  and  accus- 
tomed to  disaster,  it  is  no  shame  to  say,  wept  like  chil- 
dren when  they  beheld  him  on  his  march  to  the  scaffold. 

As  soon  as  Slade  found  all  entreaty  useless,  he  sent  a 
messenger  for  his  wife,  and  recovered  in  some  degree  his 
wonted  composure.  The  only  favor  he  now  asked  of  the 
Committee  was  that  his  execution  might  be  delayed  until 


JOSEPH  A.  SLADE  461 

his  wife  arrived, —  a  favor  that  would  have  been  granted 
could  the  Committee  have  been  assured  that  her  presence 
and  remarkable  courage  would  not  have  excited  an  at- 
tempt at  rescue,  and  been  the  cause  of  bloodshed.  The 
scaffold,  formed  of  the  gateway  of  a  corral,  was  soon  pre- 
pared, and,  everything  being  in  readiness,  Slade  was  placed 
upon  a  dry-goods  box,  with  the  fatal  cord  around  his  neck. 
Several  gentlemen  whom  he  sent  for  came  to  see  him  and 
bid  him  farewell.  One  of  his  comrades,  who  had  exhausted 
himself  in  prayers  for  his  release,  as  the  fatal  moment  drew 
nigh,  threw  off  his  coat,  and,  doubling  his  fists,  declared 
that  Slade  should  be  hanged  only  over  his  dead  body.  The 
aim  of  a  hundred  rifles  brought  him  to  his  senses,  and  he 
was  glad  to  escape  upon  a  promise  of  future  good  be- 
havior. The  execution  immediately  followed,  Slade  dying 
with  the  fall  of  the  drop.  His  body  was  removed  to  the 
Virginia  Hotel,  and  decently  laid  out. 

A  few  moments  later  his  wife,  mounted  on  a  fleet  horse, 
dashed  up  to  the  hotel,  and  rushed  madly  to  the  bed  on 
which  the  body  lay.  Casting  herself  upon  the  inanimate 
form,  she  gave  way  to  a  paroxysm  of  grief.  Her  ci'ies 
were  heartrending,  mingled  with  deep  and  bitter  curses 
upon  those  who  had  deprived  her  of  her  husband.  Hours 
elapsed  before  she  was  sufficiently  composed  to  give  direc- 
tions for  the  disposition  of  the  body. 

"  Why,  oh,  why,"  she  exclaimed,  in  an  agony  of  grief, 
"  did  not  some  of  you,  the  friends  of  Slade,  shoot  him 
down,  and  not  suffer  him  to  die  on  the  scaffold?  I  would 
have  done  it  had  I  been  here.  He  should  never  have  died 
by  the  rope  of  the  hangman.  No  dog's  death  should  have 
come  to  such  a  man." 

The  body  was  placed  in  a  tin  coffin  filled  with  alcohol, 
and  conve^^cd  to  the  ranche,  where  it  remained  until  the 
following  spring,  when  it  was  taken  to  Salt  Lake  City 
and  buried  in  the  cemetery.     A  plain  marble  slab,  with 


462   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

name  and  age  graven  thereon,  marks  the  burial-place  of 
Slade, —  a  man  who  surrendered  all  that  was  noble,  gen- 
erous, and  manly  in  his  nature  to  the  demon  of  intemper- 
ance. A  friend  of  his,  in  a  recent  letter  to  me,  relating 
to  him,  says: 

"  Slade  was  unquestionably  a  most  useful  man  in  his 
time  to  the  stage  line,  and  to  the  cause  of  progress  in  the 
Far  West,  and  he  never  was  a  robber,  as  some  have  repre- 
sented ;  but  after  years  of  contention  with  desperate  men, 
he  became  so  reckless  and  regardless  of  human  life  that 
his  best  friends  nmst  concede  that  he  was  at  times  a  most 
dangerous  character,  and  no  doubt,  by  his  defiance  of 
the  authority  and  wholesome  discipline  of  the  Vigilantes, 
brought  upon  himself  the  calamity  which  he  suffered." 


CHAPTER   XLV 

A  MODERN  HAMAN 

WE  'VE  got  a  woman  for  breakfast  this  time,  and  a 
Chinawoman  at  that,"  said  X.  Beidler,  as  he 
drew  up  to  the  well-filled  breakfast  table  of  the  saloon 
where  he  boarded.  "  There  's  no  want  of  variety.  We  had 
a  negro  election  day,  and  plenty  of  white  men  the  week 
before."  (The  expression  "a  man  for  breakfast,"  signi- 
fies, in  mining  parlance,  that  a  man  has  been  murdered 
during  the  night.) 

"  What  is  the  new  sensation,  X..''  "  inquired  one  of  the 
boarders. 

"  Nothing  remarkable,"  replied  X.,  "  a  Chinawoman 
choked  to  death,  and  robbed  of  a  thousand  dollars  during 
the  night." 

"Who  did  it.?" 

"  That 's  the  mysterious  part  of  it.  It  was  done  by 
some  one  who  don't  wish  to  be  known.  He  's  an  excep- 
tional scoundrel;  generally,  our  murders  are  committed 
publicly." 

"  Have  you  no  idea  who  committed  the  deed?  " 

"  Oh,  yes,  but  then  I  may  be  mistaken.  I  '11  say  noth- 
ing about  that  at  present.  The  woman  was  ready  to  leave 
for  Boise  this  morning  with  the  negro  Hanson,  who  has 
been  living  with  her  for  some  time.  I  don't  think  Hanson 
killed  her,  but  it  can  do  no  harm  to  arrest  him  on  sus- 
picion, and  hear  his  statement." 

This  brief  colloquy  occurred  in  Helena  on  a  Sabbath 
morning  in  September,  1867.     The  town  was  at  that  time 

463 


464  VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

infested  with  tliievcs,  ruffians,  and  murderers.  Shooting 
affrays,  resulting  in  death  to  some  of  the  parties  con- 
cerned, had  been  of  almost  daily  occurrence  for  several 
weeks,  and  the  citizens  began  to  fear  a  return  of  the  days 
of  1863. 

X.  Beidler  ate  deliberately,  and  when  he  had  finished, 
sauntered  out  in  pursuit  of  Hanson,  whom  he  soon  found, 
arrested,  and  took  before  a  magistrate.  The  negro  was 
frightened,  but  protested  his  innocence. 

"  How  was  it.''  "  inquired  the  justice,  in  a  kind  tone. 
"  Tell  us  all  you  know." 

"  I  '11  do  that,  sure,"  replied  Hanson.  "  You  see,  this 
woman  and  I  were  jest  as  close  friends  as  there  's  any  need 
of.  She  had  eight  hundred  dollars  in  dust  and  green- 
backs, and  three  horses.  We  had  agreed  some  time  ago 
to  go  to  Boise,  and  made  our  arrangements  to  leave  this 
very  morning.  I  went  up  to  the  house  last  evening  and 
found  a  white  man  there.  I  did  n't  take  no  partiklcr  no- 
tice of  the  man,  but  I  think  I  would  know  him  again  if  I 
saw  him.  I  left,  and  did  not  go  back  till  this  morning, 
when  I  found  the  woman  lying  dead  upon  the  floor.  'Fore 
God,  that  is  all  I  know  about  the  murder  of  the  woman." 

After  a  few  more  questions  relating  to  the  size  and  gen- 
eral appearance  of  the  man  whom  he  left  in  company  with 
the  woman,  Hanson  was  discharged. 

"  I  know,"  said  X.,  significantly,  "  that  he  is  not  guilty. 
Let  him  go.     We  '11  look  further  for  the  murderer." 

Some  ten  days  previous  to  this  time,  Hon.  William  H. 
Claggctt  had  come  over  from  Deer  Lodge  to  address  the 
citizens  of  Helena  on  the  issues  of  the  political  campaign, 
then  in  progress.  He  brought  with  him  a  Henry  rifle 
marked  on  the  stock  with  his  initials.  Forgetting  to  take 
it  from  the  coach  on  his  arrival,  he  returned  from  the  hotel 
after  it,  and  it  was  gone.  It  had  been  stolen  during  his 
momentary   absence.      After  a   diligent  but  unsuccessful 


JOHN'   X.   BKIDI.EU 

Latdiny  Vigilante  and  express  viessenyer 


A  MODERN  HAMAN  465 

search,  it  was  given  up  for  lost.  X.,  however,  promised 
to  keep  a  lookout  for  it. 

Election  day  came,  when  the  negroes,  for  the  first  time 
in  our  history,  were  to  exercise  the  right  of  suffrage.  It 
was  a  great  day  for  them;  and  the  few  that  were  in  the 
city,  soon  began  to  make  their  appearance,  dressed  up  for 
the  occasion  as  for  a  holiday.  A  riot  was  anticipated,  as 
threats  had  been  made  by  the  roughs  in  town  that  the 
negroes  should  not  vote  without  a  fight.  X.  Beidler  stood 
near  the  polls  to  preserve  the  peace,  and  see  that  every 
man,  black  or  white,  was  protected  in  voting.  In  the  mean- 
time a  colored  barber  and  his  negro  associate  had  a  set-to 
at  fisticuffs,  to  decide  some  knotty  point  in  politics.  The 
crowd  arrested  the  combatants,  and  while  conducting 
them  to  the  magistrate,  the  barber  escaped  and  ran  home. 
Hayes,  still  in  their  custody,  was  roughly  charged  by  one 
John  Leach  with  having  drawn  a  pistol  upon  a  white  man. 

"  You  lie  if  you  say  that,"  was  the  indignant  reply  of 
Hayes. 

"  Do  you  call  me  a  liar?  "  retorted  Leach. 

"  Yes,  you  or  any  other  man  who  says  I  drew  a  pistol  or 
carry  one." 

As  he  said  this,  the  crowd  released  Hayes,  and  he  walked 
down  the  street  to  a  barber  shop,  where  he  was  followed 
by  Leach,  who  seized  him  by  the  collar  with  one  hand,  and 
drawing  and  cocking  a  pistol  with  the  other,  repeated  the 
question, 

"  You  drew  a  pistol  upon  a  white  man,  did  you?  " 

Hayes  again  replied  in  the  negative,  and  raising  his 
arm  said, 

"  Search  me,  if  you  think  I  have  any  weapons.  My  fuss 
was  with  a  colored  man,  not  with  you.  I  don't  want  any- 
thing to  do  with  you."  As  he  turned  to  release  himself 
from  the  grasp  of  Leach,  that  ruffian,  aiming  at  his  heart, 
said, 


466  VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

"  If  jou  open  your  mouth  again,  I  '11  kill  you,"  and 
instantly  fired,  the  ball  entering  the  left  side,  below  the 
breast.     Hayes  lived  about  an  hour. 

On  being  apprised  of  the  affray,  X.  Beidler  hastened  to 
the  spot  to  arrest  Leach.  A  crowd  of  roughs  stood  around 
to  protect  him,  but  Beidler,  pistol  in  hand,  at  the  risk  of 
his  life,  pushed  his  way  through  it,  and  seizing  Leach  by 
the  collar,  secured  him  with  handcuffs  and  led  him  to  jail. 
Knives  had  been  drawn  in  the  milce  by  Leach's  friends.  A 
deadly  blow  had  been  aimed  at  Beidler  by  one  Bill  Hyn- 
son,  which  he  evaded  by  the  dexterous  use  of  his  right  arm. 

After  the  man  was  in  prison,  and  quiet  restored,  Hyn- 
son  sought  out  Beidler,  who  was  then,  as  now,  a  terror  to 
the  roughs,  and  said  to  him, 

"  X.,  I  saved  your  life.  I  knocked  off  the  blow  just  in 
time." 

Comprehending  the  object  of  this  salutation,  X.  replied 
dryly, 

"  I  'm  all  right  now,  and  much  obliged  to  3'ou.  I  sup- 
pose you  saved  my  life." 

Hynson,  mistaking  the  irony  for  sincerity,  followed  it 
up  by  a  request  that  Beidler  would  use  his  influence  to  get 
him  a  position  on  the  police  force  of  Helena.  Beidler 
gave  him  no  encouragement,  and  a  few  days  afterwards 
he  told  Beidler  he  had  got  a  better  thing  and  did  not  wish 
the  place. 

From  the  meagre  description  given  by  Hanson  of  the 
man  he  saw  in  company  with  the  Chinawoman,  during  the 
evening  preceding  her  murder,  Beidler's  suspicions  fell 
upon  Hynson.     He  watched  him  narrowly,  but  could  find 

IK)    cll'W. 

A  day  or  two  after  fhe  murder,  at  a  very  early  hour  in 
the  morning,  Beidler,  in  pursuit  of  oircinnstances  to  jus- 
tify his  suspicions,  abruptly  entered  an  old,  deserted  build- 
ing, wjjich  a  lot  of  loafers  and  roughs  had  appropriated 


A  MODERN  HAMAN  467 

for  sleeping  purposes.  The  floor  was  covered  with  their 
blankets,  and  the  sudden  presence  of  Beidler  among  them 
at  so  early  an  hour  caused  great  consternation.  They 
crept  from  their  covers,  and  exchanging  hurried  glances 
with  each  other,  as  if  to  inquire,  "  Which  of  us  is  this  day 
a  victim  for  the  dry  tree?  "  fled  from  the  building  like 
rats  from  a  sinking  ship.  Hynson  was  among  the  num- 
ber. In  the  hurried  observation  he  had  taken  of  the  room, 
Beidler  saw,  lying  beside  Hynson  under  his  blanket,  a 
Henry  rifle,  which  by  the  initials  on  the  stock  he  recog- 
nized as  Claggett's.  After  the  room  was  deserted,  he  re- 
turned to  it,  and  seizing  the  rifle  sent  it  to  its  owner  by 
the  next  express. 

Hynson  missed  the  rifle.  Meeting  Beidler  the  next  day, 
he  inquired  if  he  had  seen  it. 

"  Yes,"  replied  X.     "  Whose  is  it?  " 

"  Mine,"  said  Hynson  defiantly. 

"Yours!"  rejoined  X.  sternly.  "How  came  you  by 
it?  You  have  seen  the  initials  on  the  stock.  Don't  you 
know  whose  it  is?  " 

Seeing  that  Beidler  was  not  to  be  deceived,  Hynson, 
after  some  prevarication,  acknowledged  that  he  took  the 
rifle  from  the  coach, 

"  I  thought,"  said  he,  "  I  might  as  well  have  it  as  any 
one." 

This  admission  of  guilt  would  have  been  followed  by 
Hynson's  immediate  arrest  had  not  Beidler  hoped  by  de- 
lay to  find  some  evidence  against  him  of  murder.  The 
negro  Hanson  had,  in  the  meantime,  seen  Hynson.  He 
told  Beidler  he  resembled  the  man  he  saw  at  the  house 
of  the  Chinawoman.  Beidler  hesitated  no  longer,  but  at 
once  arrested  Hynson  for  stealing  the  rifle,  intending  to 
keep  him  in  custody  until  satisfied  of  his  guilt  or  inno- 
cence of  the  higher  crime.  Impatient  of  this  restraint, 
Hynson  daily  vented  his  wrath  upon  his  keepers. 


468  VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

"  As  soon  as  I  get  out,"  said  he  to  John  Fetherstun,  "  I 
intend  to  kill  you.  Only  give  me  the  chance,  and  see  how 
quick  I  '11  do  it." 

John  laughed,  dismissing  all  his  threats  with  some 
axioms  less  complimentary  to  his  courage  than  his  bra- 
vado, such  as,  "  You  crow  well,"  "Barking  dogs  seldom 
bite,"  etc. 

Beidler  soon  became  satisfied  that  no  evidence  could 
be  found  sufficient  to  convict  Hynson  of  murder,  and  the 
stealing  of  the  rifle  in  a  community  where  higher  crimes 
were  committed  daily  with  impunity  did  not  call  for  heav- 
ier punishment  than  the  thief  had  already  received.  So 
Hynson  was  released.  As  Fetherstun  opened  the  door  of 
the  prison  for  him,  he  said, 

"  Have  you  got  a  six-shooter?  " 

*'  No,"  replied  Hynson. 

"  Then  I  'II  give  you  one,  and  you  can  turn  loose,"  at 
the  same  time  drawing  a  revolver  from  his  belt  and  offer- 
ing it  to  him.  Seeing  that  H3nson  hesitated,  he  imme- 
diately added,  "  Take  it.  It  will  give  you  the  chance 
you  've  been  looking  for  so  long." 

Hynson  declined  taking  it,  saying, 

"  I  was  in  jail  and  feeling  bad  when  I  said  that. 
You  've  always  been  kind  to  me.  I  've  got  nothing  against 
you,  and  don't  want  to  hurt  you,  but  I  'm  going  for  X., 
sure, —  the  man  that  put  me  in  here." 

X.  needed  no  protector,  especially  when  warned.  No 
man  could  draw  and  fire  a  pistol  with  deadlier  aim  or 
greater  rapidity,  and  so  Hynson  found  no  opportunity 
of  ])utting  his  threat  into  execution. 

In  the  Spring  of  18G8,  Beidler,  on  his  return  to  Helena 
from  the  Whoop-up  mines,  spent  a  few  days  en  route  at 
Benton.  The  steamboats  from  St.  Louis  were  daily  ar- 
riving with  freights,  which  from  this  point  were  conveyed 
by    teams    to    all    the    towns    and    mining    camps    in    the 


A  MODERN  IIAMAN  469 

Territory.  Hynson,  hired  as  a  teamster  to  Scott  Bul- 
lard,  a  heavy  Helena  freighter,  was  on  his  way  to  Ben- 
ton. Learning  that  Beidler  was  there,  he  frequently  in 
conversation  avowed  the  intention  of  shooting  him  on 
sight.  As  the  train  approached  Benton,  BuUard  rode  into 
town  in  advance  of  it,  and  apprised  Beidler  of  his  danger. 

The  day  after  the  arrival  of  the  train,  Hynson  and 
Beidler  approached  each  other  in  the  street.  The  former 
extended  his  hand  in  a  friendly  manner,  which  Beidler 
seized  with  his  left  hand,  keeping  his  right  in  reserve  for 
the  use  of  his  pistol. 

"  I  am  told,"  said  Beidler,  "  that  you  have  come  here  to 
kill  me." 

"  I  kill  you !  "  said  Hynson,  in  well-affected  surprise. 

"  Yes,  you,"  said  Beidler,  dropping  the  hand  he  held, 
"  and  if  you  wish  to  try  it,  you  '11  never  have  a  better 
chance.  If  that 's  what  you  want,  you  can't  pull  your 
pistol  too  quick." 

Hynson  glared  at  the  little,  athletic  man  who  confronted 
him  so  boldly,  and  saw  in  those  burning  eyes  and  that 
steady  muscle  not  the  smallest  trace  of  fear. 

Seizing  Beidler  again  by  the  hand,  he  said  in  hurried 
tones, 

"X.,  I  did  make  a  fool  of  myself  when  drunk  in  camp 
with  the  boys,  in  some  remarks  relating  to  you,  but  I 
did  n't  mean  it.  I  don't  want  to  hurt  you,  and  never  did. 
Now,  let 's  be  friends." 

Beidler,  who  had  no  other  feeling  than  contempt  for  the 
bragging  poltroon,  listened  in  silence. 

"  I  want  you,"  said  Hynson,  "  to  aid  me  in  getting  the 
position  of  night-watchman  in  this  city." 

X.  replied  to  this  request  in  general  terms,  and,  turn- 
ing on  his  heel,  left  Hynson,  who  afterwards,  by  some 
means  which  X.  could  not  fathom,  received  the  appoint- 
ment he  desired. 


470  VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

Before  leaving  Benton,  X.  received  a  letter  from  Silver 
Bow  requesting  him  to  watch  for  and  arrest  a  person  who 
had  stolen  a  lot  of  nuggets  and  jewelry,  and  gone  from 
that  place  to  Benton.  Called  suddenly  away  by  more  im- 
portant business,  X.  instructed  Hynson  with  this  service, 
who  caught  the  thief  and  recovered  the  property,  which  he 
appropriated  to  his  own  use,  pawning  the  jewelry  for  a 
sum  of  money,  which  was  soon  squandered.  When  X.  re- 
turned, Hynson,  with  much  difficulty,  redeemed  most  of 
the  jewelry,  which  Beidler  returned  to  the  owner. 

About  this  time  Beidler,  as  deputy  United  States  mar- 
shal, made  a  seizure  of  some  contraband  goods.  One 
Charles  Williams  was  an  important  witness  in  the  case. 
The  court  was  held  at  Helena,  one  hundred  and  forty 
miles  distant  from  Benton.  Beidler  discovered  that  the 
defendant  and  his  friends  had  a  plan  on  foot  to  prevent 
Williams  from  going  to  court,  which  he  determined  to 
forestall.  He  met  Williams  by  appointment  a  couple  of 
miles  from  town,  furnished  him  a  horse,  a  Henry  rifle,  and 
ten  dollars  in  money,  and  directed  him  to  ride  with  all 
possible  despatch  to  Helena,  he  intending  to  follow  in  the 
coach,  which  was  to  leave  in  a  few  hours.  Beidler  saw 
nothing  of  his  witness  on  the  route,  but,  as  he  had  told  him 
to  avoid  the  road  the  first  day  as  much  as  possible,  this 
occasioned  no  surprise ;  but  when  the  second  and  third 
days  passed  without  his  appearance,  he  feared  some  acci- 
dent had  befallen  him.  The  day  after  his  arrival  at  Hel- 
ena he  received  information  that  the  horse  had  been  found 
hitched  to  a  post  in  Benton,  with  the  saddle  and  gun  on 
his  back,  and  that  Williams  had  been  hanged.  Beidler 
returned  to  Benton  and  secured  his  property.  In  a  con- 
fidential conversation  with  Hynson  he  learned  that  before 
the  execution  of  Williams  was  completed  he  was  cut  down, 
taken  by  his  captors  below  Benton,  placed  upon  a  raft 
in   the  ^Missouri,  and  upon  his  pronu'se  to  leave  and  not 


A  MODERN  HAMAN  471 

return  to  tlic  country,  permitted  to  escape  with  his  life. 
This  story,  discredited  at  the  time,  was  confirmed  by 
Williams  himself  four  years  afterwards. 

Hynson's  participation  in  this  high-handed  outrage, 
while  acting  as  a  conservator  of  the  peace,  roused  public 
indignation  against  him.  A  few  days  afterwards  he  pro- 
voked a  dispute  with  Mr.  Morgan,  the  sheriff,  and  slapped 
him  in  the  face.  One  trouble  followed  another,  until,  in 
the  Summer  of  1868,  a  Mr.  Robinson  was  knocked  down 
and  robbed  in  the  street,  and  the  circumstances  all  pointed 
unmistakably  to  Hynson,  the  night-watchman,  as  the 
aggressor.  As  there  was  no  positive  proof  of  his  guilt, 
he  was  suffered  to  retain  his  position  without  molestation. 

On  the  morning  of  August  18,  the  same  season,  Hyn- 
son was  observed  to  convey  to  a  spot  on  a  prairie, 
a  mile  or  more  distant  from  town,  three  pine-tree  poles 
about  twelve  feet  long  and  four  inches  in  diameter.  Tying 
one  end  of  these  three  poles  securely  together,  he  raised 
them  up  in  the  form  of  a  tripod.  When  they  were  sta- 
tioned in  a  substantial  manner,  and  to  his  liking,  he  went 
to  a  store  and  purchased  a  small  coil  of  rope. 

"  WHiat  is  the  rope  for  ?  "  inquired  a  bystander. 

"  To  hang  a  man  with,"  was  his  reply. 

The  listeners  understood  this  as  a  joke,  and  dismissed 
the  subject  with  a  laugh. 

Hynson  next  employed  a  negro  to  go  out  and  dig  a 
grave  near  the  tripod. 

"  Who  's  dead,  Massa  Hynson  ?  "  inquired  the  man. 

"  Never  you  mind,"  replied  Hynson.  "  Go  ahead  and 
dig  the  grave.     I  '11  furnish  the  corpse." 

The  negro  obeyed,  and  the  grave  was  in  readiness  at 
nightfall. 

The  next  morning  the  lifeless  body  of  Hynson  was 
found  suspended  from  the  tripod  by  the  rope  he  had 
prepared. 


472   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

The  citizens  flocked  in  crowds  to  the  spot.  Among 
them  was  the  negro  who  dug  the  grave.  When  he  saw 
the  swaying  form,  and  had  scrutinized  the  ghastly  face, 
he  exclaimed, 

"  'Fore  God,  dat's  de  gemman  dat  tole  me  to  dig  de 
grave,  and  said  he  'd  furnish  de  corpse." 

After  the  body  was  cut  down,  there  was  found  in  a 
pocket  the  following  letter  from  the  mother  of  Hynson : 

"  My  dear  Son, —  I  write  to  relieve  my  great  anxiety,  for 
I  am  in  great  trouble  on  your  account.  Your  father  had  a 
dream  about  you.  He  dreamed  that  he  had  a  letter  from 
your  lawyer,  who  said  that  your  case  was  hopeless.  God 
grant  that  it  may  prove  only  a  dream  !  I,  your  poor,  broken- 
hearted mother,  am  in  suspense  on  your  account.  For  God's 
sake,  come  home." 


CHAPTER   XLVI 

JAMES  DANIELS 

OF  the  early  history  of  this  individual  I  know  but 
little,  and  but  for  circumstances  attending  his 
"  taking  off,"  should  not  trouble  my  readers  with  any 
notice  of  him.  That  he  was  hardened  in  vice  and  crime, 
and,  possibly,  was  one  of  the  worst  of  all  the  ruffians 
whose  careers  I  have  passed  under  review,  will  hardly 
admit  of  a  doubt,  when  the  reader  is  informed  that  he  mur- 
dered one  man  in  Tuolumne  County,  California,  and  was 
only  prevented  by  want  of  agility  to  complete  a  race,  from 
killing  another.  His  appearance  in  Helena,  and  the  com- 
mission of  the  crime  for  which  he  lost  his  life,  were  almost 
simultaneous.  In  a  quarrel  incident  to  a  game  of  cards, 
near  Helena,  he  stabbed  and  instantly  killed  a  man  by 
the  name  of  Gartley.  He  was  immediately  arrested  by 
the  Vigilantes,  who  surrendered  him  to  the  civil  authorities. 
On  his  trial  for  murder,  circumstances  were  proved,  which, 
in  the  opinion  of  the  jury,  reduced  his  crime  to  man- 
slaughter. Judge  Munson  sentenced  him  to  three  years' 
imprisonment  in  the  territorial  prison.  After  a  few 
weeks'  confinement,  a  petition  for  his  pardon,  signed  by 
thirty-two  respectable  citizens  of  Helena,  was  also  pre- 
sented to  acting  Governor  Meagher,  who,  under  mistaken 
sense  of  his  own  powers,  issued  an  order  for  his  release. 
The  right  to  pardon  belonged  exclusively  to  the  President. 
Judge  Munson  went  immediately  to  the  capital  to  show 
the  law  to  the  Executive,  convince  him  of  his  error,  and 
obtain  an  order  for  the  re-arrest  of  Daniels.     Meantime, 

473 


474  VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

that  individual,  uttering  the  most  diabolical  threats  against 
the  witnesses  who  had  testified  against  him,  found  his  way 
back  to  Helena;  and  before  the  judge  could  effect  his 
object  with  the  governor,  in  fact,  on  the  night  succeeding 
the  day  of  his  arrival  in  Helena,  Daniels  was  arrested 
by  the  Vigilantes  and  hanged. 

As  I  have  endeavored  to  justify,  in  all  cases  where  I 
deemed  the  circumstances  warranted  it,  the  action  of  the 
^'igilantcs  in  taking  life,  so,  as  such  circumstances  were 
not  apparent  in  this  case,  do  I  deem  it  a  duty  to  say  that 
they  committed  an  irreparable  error  in  the  execution  of 
this  man.  However  much,  by  his  threats  and  reckless 
conduct,  he  may  have  deserved  death,  they  had  no  right 
to  inflict  it.  If  he  had  been  wrongfully  pardoned,  he  1 
could  easily  have  been  re-arrested.  He  was  a  single 
individual  in  the  midst  of  a  populous  connnunity,  warned 
by  his  threats  of  his  designs,  which  could  easily  have  been 
thwarted  by  arresting  him,  or  by  setting  a  careful  watch 
over  his  actions.  No  excuse  can  be  offered  for  the  course 
that  was  pursued.  This,  at  least,  was  one  case  where  the  I 
Vigilantes  exceeded  the  boundaries  of  right  and  justice, 
and  became  themselves  the  violators  of  law  and  pro- 
priety. 

I  was  at  that  time  a  member  of  the  Executive  Com- 
mittee of  the  \'irginla  ("ity  branch  of  the  \'igilante  organ- 
ization, and  that  Committee  disavowed  all  responsibility 
for  the  execution  of  Daniels,  and  expressed  its  disapproval 
of  that  act,  which,  it  was  believed,  did  not  have  the 
official  sanction  of  the  Executive  Committee  of  Helena, 
but  was  regarded  as  the  unauthorized  act  of  certain 
irresponsible  members  of  the  organization  at  Helena. 

And  I  will  here  take  occasion  to  say  that  this  was  not 
an  isolated  instance.  Under  the  pretence  of  Vigilante 
justice,  after  the  establishment  of  courts  of  justice  in  Mon- 
tana, and  when   many   of  tlie   respectable  citizens  of  the 


JAMES  DANIELS  475 

Territory  had  virtually  abandoned  the  order,  a  few  vicious 
men  continued  occasionally  to  enforce  its  summary  dis- 
cipline. Several  individuals  were  hanged  who  had  been  de- 
tected in  stealing  horses,  several  for  giving  utterance  to 
threats  of  vengeance,  and  several  on  mere  suspicion  of 
having  committed  crime.  As  soon  as  this  order  of  things 
was  understood  by  the  people,  the  Vigilante  institution 
was  brought  to  an  end,  and  the  men  who  had  misused  its 
powers  were  given  to  understand  that  any  further  employ- 
ment of  them  would  probably  cause  it  to  react  upon 
themselves.  These  abuses  had  not  been  frequent,  and 
when  discovered  were  promptly  terminated. 


i 


CHAPTER   XLVII 
DAVID  OPDYKE 

THIS  man,  on  some  accounts  the  most  noted  among 
the  roughs  of  Idaho,  was  of  patrician  origin, —  the 
degenerate  scion  of  a  family  which  boasted  among  its 
members  some  of  the  leading  citizens  of  New  York.  He 
was  born  in  the  vicinity  of  Cayuga  Lake,  New  York,  about 
1830,  and  could  not  have  been  more  than  thirty-six  years 
of  age  at  the  close  of  his  infamous  career.  He  went  to 
California  in  1855,  where,  for  want  of  more  congenial  oc- 
cupation, he  was  employed  for  two  years  by  the  Califor- 
nia Stage  Company  as  a  stage  driver.  Thence,  in  1858, 
he  sailed  to  British  Columbia,  but  finding  no  business  there 
suited  to  his  tastes,  returned  the  same  year  to  California, 
spending  two  unprofitable  years  in  Yuba  County,  and  two 
years  succeeding  in  \'irginia  City,  Nevada.  Excited  by  the 
intelligence  from  the  northern  mines,  in  1862  he  went  to 
Florence  and  Warren  in  Idaho,  and  tlie  Fall  of  that  year 
found  him  in  Boise  County,  where  he  located  and  worked  a 
valuable  claim  on  the  Ophir.  In  ISG-i,  with  an  accredited 
fortime  of  fifteen  lunulred  <lollars,  he  removed  to  Boise  City 
and  bought  a  liver}'  stable  in  the  centre  of  the  town,  which 
is  still  pointed  out  to  visitors  as  having  been  the  rendez- 
vous of  one  of  the  most  reckless  and  numerous  bands  of 
robbers  and  road  agents  in  the  mountains. 

Opdyke's  associations  were  bad,  and  he  was  suspected 
of  aiding  in  the  circulation  of  spurious  gold  dust,  at  that 
time  an  extensive  business  with  the  roughs  of  the  country. 
His    stable    soon    became    the    headquarters    of    all    the 

476 


DAVID  OPDYKE  477 

suspicious  cliaractcrs  of  Boise,  Owyhee,  and  Alturas 
counties.  From  these  and  other  circumstances,  the  public 
was  prepared  to  believe  that  all  the  thefts  and  robberies 
occurring  in  the  country  were  committed  by  persons  con- 
nected with  the  "  Opdyke  gang,"  but  so  careful  were  they 
to  cover  their  tracks,  that  no  positive  evidence  could  be 
found  against  them. 

A  gentleman  by  the  name  of  Parks  went  from  Cincinnati, 
Ohio,  to  Baker  County,  Oregon,  in  1862,  where  he  was 
elected  sheriff.  He  was  very  much  respected.  Early  in  the 
Fall  of  1864,  he  went  to  Idaho,  and  in  Owyhee  County  pur- 
chased and  located  claims  on  several  quartz  lodes,  speci- 
mens of  which  he  selected  to  exhibit  to  his  Eastern  friends, 
and  packed  carefully  in  a  valise.  Coming  to  Boise  City, 
preparatory  to  his  departure  for  the  States,  he  passed 
through  the  streets  with  the  heavy  valise  in  his  hand,  which, 
being  observed  by  some  of  the  "  Opdyke  gang,"  was  sup- 
posed by  them  to  contain  a  large  quantity  of  gold  dust. 
He  remained  in  Boise  four  or  five  days,  and  was  narrowly 
watched  by  the  roughs. 

On  the  morning  of  his  departure,  at  three  o'clock,  sev- 
eral of  the  robbers  left  by  a  trail,  and  coming  up  with  the 
coach  seven  miles  east  of  the  city,  caused  the  driver  to  stop, 
fired  upon  Parks,  rifled  his  pockets  of  two  or  three  hun- 
dred dollars  in  money,  and  departed  with  the  much-coveted 
valise.  Their  chagrin  at  finding  it  to  contain  mere  quartz 
specimens  may  be  better  imagined  than  described.  Parks 
returned  in  the  coach  to  Boise,  and  died  in  less  than  a  week 
of  his  wounds.  He  was  buried  by  the  Masons.  No  clew 
to  his  murderers  could  be  found  at  the  time;  but  in  some 
of  the  criminal  developments  made  afterwards,  it  was 
ascertained  that  Charley  IMarcus  and  three  others  of  the 
"  gang  "  were  directly  concerned  in  the  attack. 

The  next  murderous  outrage  in  which  the  "  Opdyke 
gang  "  was  concerned,  was  the  murder  and  robbery,  in 


478  VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

Port  Neuf  Canon,  of  five  coach  passengers  from  Montana, 
in  the  Summer  of  1865.  It  is  now  known  that  Opdykc  fur- 
nished arms  and  anununition  for  the  party  from  Idaho, 
which  engaged  in  this  expedition,  and  shared  in  the  booty. 
Seven  or  eight  of  his  gang  left  Boise  at  the  time,  and  were 
joined  at  Snake  River  by  an  equal  party  of  Montana 
roughs,  who  participated  with  them  in  the  robbery.  Frank 
Johnson,  ostcnsibl}'  the  keeper  of  a  public-house  eight  miles 
below  Boise  City,  was  one  of  the  confederates  in  this  crime. 
His  house  was  long  a  rendezvous  for  robbers,  and  his 
partner  Beech  kept  a  similar  meeting-place  at  the  Over- 
land Ferry  on  Snake  River.  Beech  was  hung  by  the  Vig- 
ilantes in  Nevada  in  1865.  Johnson  eluded  the  pursuit  of 
the  Vigilantes,  fled  to  Powder  River,  Oregon,  where  he 
was  arrested  by  Captain  Bledso,  Wells,  Fargo  and  Com- 
pany's messenger,  on  a  charge  of  stealing  horses.  Found 
guilty  on  his  trial,  he  was  sentenced  to  ten  years'  impris- 
onment in  the  Oregon  Penitentiary. 

Soon  after  the  Port  Neuf  robbery,  information  was  given 
to  the  Montana  authorities,  that  one  Hank  Buckner,  an 
escaped  murderer  from  that  jurisdiction,  had  turned  up 
in  Idaho,  and  was  living  in  Boise  City.  In  the  Fall  of 
186f'J,  Buckner,  in  a  dispute  with  one  Brown  in  the  Mad- 
ison Valley,  drew  his  pistol  and  shot  him.  Buckner  was 
arrested,  examined  in  Virginia  City,  and  placed  in  custody 
of  the  sheriff,  from  Avhom,  by  means  never  made  public, 
he  escaped.  The  sheriff,  a  very  respectable  man,  was  ex- 
amined by  the  Vigilantes,  and  acquitted  of  blame  in  the 
matter;  but  the  story  he  told,  which  was  positively  cred- 
ited by  the  Vigilantes,  ought  to  have  led  to  furtlu-r  inves- 
tigation, as  it  implicated  others. 

Governor  Green  Clay  Smith  sent  Neil  Howie  to  Idaho, 
with  a  requisition  upon  Governor  liVon  for  the  delivery  of 
Huckner  to  the  Montana  authorities.  The  "  Opdyke 
gang,"  of  which  Buckner  was  one,  concealed  the  fugitive, 


DAVID  OPDYKE  479 

on  Howie's  arrival,  in  Dry  Creek,  ten  miles  distant  from 
Boise  City.  Reenan,  the  sheriff  of  the  county,  found  and 
arrested  him.  Governor  Lyon  being  at  Lewiston,  Buck- 
ner  was  examined,  and  despite  the  efforts  of  his  friends, 
who  flocked  in  hundreds  to  his  defence,  was  ordered  by 
the  magistrate  to  be  confined  in  jail  in  Idaho  City,  until 
an  order  for  his  surrender  could  be  obtained.  Before 
this  could  be  received,  a  writ  of  habeas  corpus  was  issued 
by  the  probate  judge  of  the  county,  and  Buckner  was 
released  on  straw  bail.  Howie,  seldom  thwarted,  as  we 
have  seen  in  earlier  portions  of  this  history,  returned  to 
Montana,  greatly  crestfallen,  without  his  prisoner.  Buck- 
ner, who  was  believed  to  have  been  a  leader  in  the  Port 
Neuf  robbery,  is  still  at  large. 

At  its  session  of  186J<-65,  the  Legislature  of  Idaho  set 
off  and  provided  for  the  organization  of  Ada  County,  ap- 
pointing the  election  of  officers  in  March,  1865.  The 
'*  Opdyke  gang  "  was  a  strong  power  in  the  Democratic 
party.  At  its  request  Opdyke  was  nominated  for  sheriff, 
and  by  a  party  vote  largely  in  the  ascendant,  elected  by 
a  small  majority.  Soon  after  his  election,  under  a  pre- 
tence of  official  duty,  he  avowed  the  intention  of  breaking 
up  a  Vigilante  organization  of  about  thirty  persons, 
which  had  been  formed  in  the  Payette  River  settlement, 
thirty  miles  from  Boise  City,  for  the  purpose  of  freeing 
their  neighborhood  from  two  or  three  horse-thieves  and 
manufacturers  of  spurious  gold  dust.  The  Vigilantes 
were  a  great  terror  to  the  roughs,  and  interfered  with  all 
their  unlawful  and  bloody  plans  for  money-making.  In  pur- 
suance of  this  design,  Opdyke  and  his  coadjutors  had  in 
some  mysterious  manner  obtained  the  names  of  all  the 
Vigilantes,  and  procured  a  warrant  for  their  arrest.  The 
proceedings,  to  all  outward  seeming,  were  to  be  con- 
ducted in  legal  form ;  but  in  making  the  arrest,  Opdyke 
and    his    posse    proposed    to    shoot    the    leaders    of    the 


480   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

Vigilantes,  and  screen  themselves  under  the  plea  that  they 
had  resisted.  It  was  arranged  that  fifteen  or  twenty  of 
the  "  Opdyke  gang  "  would  leave  Boise  City,  armed  with 
double-barrelled  shotguns  and  revolvers,  and  unite  at 
Horse-shoe  Bend  road  with  as  man}'  more  from  the  coun- 
try, similarly  equipped.  They  would  then  proceed  with 
their  warrant  to  the  settlement,  and,  by  stealing  a  march 
upon  the  citizens,  easily  effect  their  diabolical  purpose. 

Intelligence  of  their  plan  came  to  the  ears  of  the  citi- 
zens of  Boise  City.  They  secretly  despatched  a  messen- 
ger to  the  Payette  Vigilantes  with  the  information.  The 
thirty  members  of  that  order  armed  and  assembled  at 
once  in  self-protection.  Opdyke,  at  the  head  of  fifteen 
of  the  worst  men  in  the  Territory,  whom  he  had  sum- 
moned as  a  posse  comitatus,  left  Boise  City  at  four 
o'clock  P.M.  to  make  the  arrest.  The  party  from  the 
country  failed  to  connect  with  him,  and  his  party  marched 
down  alone.  The  Vigilantes,  numbering  two  to  one  of 
his  band,  met  him.  They  were  quite  as  determined  as 
their  opponents.  Surprised  at  the  preparation  they  had 
made  to  resist  him,  Opdyke  held  a  parley,  and  was  obliged 
to  comply  with  all  the  terms  prescribed  by  tiie  Vigilantes. 
These  were,  that  they  would  march  to  Boise  City  and 
answer  the  warrant,  but  they  would  not  allow  Opdyke  to 
disarm  them  or  "  get  the  drop  "  on  them.  By  tiie  aid 
of  counsel,  the  complaint  against  them  was  dismissed,  and 
they  were  discharged,  thus  bringing  to  a  humiliating 
conclusion  a  deep-laid  conspiracy  against  the  lives  of 
some  of  the  best  citizens  of  the  Territory.  Nearly  all 
the  Vigilantes  had  been  partisans  of  Opdyke,  and  of 
course,  after  this  manifestation  of  his  hostility,  were  very 
bitter  in  their  opposition  to  him.  Soon  after  this  the 
county  commissioners  ordered  the  district  attorney,  A.  G. 
Cook,  to  institute  crimiiml  proceedings  against  Opdyki- 
for    permitting    a    criminal     to    escape,     and    also     for 


DAVID  OPDYKE  481 

embezzlement,  they  having  discovered  that  he  was  a  de- 
faulter to  the  county  in  the  sum  of  eleven  hundred  dol- 
lars. Cook,  however,  resigned  his  office.  A.  Hurd, 
who  was  appointed  to  succeed  him,  prepared  indictments 
which  were  sustained  by  the  grand  jury  on  both  charges. 
Opdyke  paid  the  amount  for  which  he  was  a  defaulter, 
and  resigned  his  office,  and  the  prosecutions  were  with- 
drawn. He,  however,  swore  that  he  would  be  bitterly 
revenged  upon  the  grand  jury,  which,  being  composed 
chiefly  of  men  of  his  political  faith,  ought,  he  said,  to 
have  saved  him,  right  or  wrong,  out  of  party  considera- 
tion. The  grand  jury  held  a  meeting,  and  sent  to  him  to 
ascertain  his  intentions.  He  Avas  glad  to  escape  further 
molestation  by  disclaiming  all  hostile  designs  against 
them. 

Early  in  March,  1865,  the  citizens  of  Southern  Idaho 
fitted  out  an  expedition  against  the  marauding  bands  of 
Indians  which,  for  some  months  previous,  had  been  en- 
gaged in  predatory  warfare  in  that  part  of  the  Territory. 
Opdyke,  as  leader,  with  thirty  of  his  gang,  volunteered. 
Money,  provisions,  horses,  and  other  equipment  were 
furnished  by  the  people.  A  man  by  the  name  of  Joseph 
Aden  was  employed  to  pack  the  stores,  for  which  pur- 
pose eleven  ponies  were  provided  and  placed  in  his  charge, 
with  the  understanding  that  he  should  receive  them  in 
part  payment  for  his  services.  In  pursuance  of  that 
agreement,  he  immediately  branded  and  ranched  them. 

Among  the  volunteers  was  a  young  man  of  nineteen, 
by  the  name  of  Reuben  Raymond.  He  had  performed 
faithful  service  in  the  Union  army,  and  was  just  dis- 
charged at  Fort  Boise.  He  was  quite  a  favorite  with 
the  people,  and,  though  necessarily  intimate  at  this  time 
with  the  "  Opdyke  gang,"  was  perfectly  honest  and  trust- 
worthy. The  expedition  ran  its  course,  and,  like  all  ex- 
peditions of  tlie  kind,  was  barren  of  any  marked  results. 


482   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

Opdyke  cached  a  large  portion  of  the  stores  on  Snake 
River  for  the  future  use  of  his  road  agent  band;  and  the 
roughs,  all  the  more  daring  and  impudent  for  the  confi- 
dence the  people  had  reposed  in  them,  became  a  greater 
burden  to  the  community  than  ever. 

Aden  turned  his  ponies  out  on  the  commons  on  the 
south  side  of  Boise  River,  claimed  as  a  ranche  by  Opd^'ke 
and  one  Drake, —  the  latter  assuming  to  exercise  a  sort 
of  constructive  ownership  to  the  land.  Designing  to 
swindle  Aden  out  of  his  property  in  the  ponies,  Opdyke 
told  Drake  not  to  surrender  them  to  Aden  except  on  his 
written  order.  Aden  employed  attorneys  and  got  pos- 
session of  the  ponies.  Opdyke  caused  his  arrest  for  steal- 
ing; and  Aden,  leading  his  ponies,  which  he  hitched  in 
front  of  the  justice's  office,  appeared  for  trial.  He  was 
discharged,  and  the  crowd  dispersed;  but  Opdyke's  at- 
torney remained,  and  persuaded  the  magistrate  to  issue 
!in  order  for  the  surrender  of  the  ponies  to  his  client. 
Opdyke  and  his  friends  took  them  away,  and  they  were 
never  seen  in  Boise  City  afterwards. 

Aden  conunenced  a  suit  against  Cline,  the  justice,  for 
damages,  and  recovered  a  judgment  of  eight  hundred 
dollars,  which  Cline  was  obliged  to  pay.  Cline  resigned 
his  office.  At  Aden's  examination,  Reuben  Raymond 
had  sworn  to  the  identity  of  the  ponies,  which  avhs  dis- 
puted by  nearly  all  the  roughs  in  the  expedition,  and  it 
was  almost  solely  on  his  testimony  that  Aden  was  dis- 
charged. The  "  Opdyke  gang "  wore  very  angry  with 
him;  and  on  the  morning  of  April  55,  18fi5,  a  fiw  days 
after  the  examination,  while  Raymond  was  employed  in  a 
stall  in  Opdyke's  stable,  John  C.  Clark,  a  noted  rough, 
stepped  before  the  stall  with  his  revolver  in  his  hand,  and 
commenced  cursing  Raymond.  Opdyke  and  several  of  his 
associates,  together  with  a  number  of  good  citizens,  wiw 
standing  near.  Clark  finally  threatened  to  shoot  Ray- 
mond. 


I 


DAVID  OPDYKE  483 

"  I  am  entirely  unarmed,"  said  Kaymond,  at  the  same 
time  pulling  open  his  shirt  bosom,  "  but  if  you  wish  to 
shoot  me  down  like  a  dog,  there  is  nothing  to  hinder  you. 
Give  me  a  chance,  and  I  will  fight  you  in  any  way  you 
choose,  though  I  have  nothing  against  you." 

Clark  covered  Raymond  for  a  moment  or  more,  with 
his  pistol,  and  then  with  an  opprobrious  epithet,  said,  "  I 
will  shoot  you,  anyway,"  and,  taking  deliberate  aim,  fired, 
and  killed  Raymond  on  the  spot.  This  murder  produced 
the  wildest  excitement,  and  Clark,  who  had  been  innne- 
diately  arrested,  was  taken  out  of  the  guard-house  the 
second  night  afterwards,  and  hanged  upon  an  impromptu 
gibbet  between  the  town  and  the  garrison.  Threats  of 
vengeance  were  publicly  proclaimed  by  the  "  Opdyke 
gang,"  Opd^'ke  himself  improving  the  occasion  to  tell 
several  of  the  grand  jury  men,  who  had  found  the  indict- 
ment already  mentioned  against  him,  that  they  would  not 
live  to  walk  the  streets  of  Boise  City  many  days  more.  It 
was  also  reported  that  the  roughs  intended  to  burn  the 
city,  and  not  leave  a  house  standing. 

The  citizens,  fully  aroused  to  the  dangers  of  the  crisis, 
organized  a  night  patrol.  Every  inhabitant  of  the  city 
was  armed,  and  all  cooperated  for  the  purpose  of  clear- 
ing the  country  of  every  suspected  person  in  it.  While 
plans  were  maturing  for  this  purpose,  the  roughs  be- 
came uneasy,  and  one  after  another  began  to  disappear 
\nitil  but  few  remained.  Opdyke  took  the  alarm  for  his 
own  safety,  and  on  the  twelfth  of  April,  accompanied  by 
John  Dixon,  a  notorious  confederate  in  crime,  departed 
by  the  Rocky  Bar  road,  and  brought  up  at  a  cabin  thirty 
miles  distant.  A  party  of  Vigilantes  followed  in  close  pur- 
suit. They  captured  him  during  the  night,  and  conduct- 
ing him  ten  miles  farther  on  the  road  to  Syrup  Creek, 
hanged  him  under  a  shed  between  two  vacant  cabins,  on 
the  following  morning.  His  companion  Dixon,  who  was 
caught  on  the  march,  was  hanged  at  the  same  time. 


484  VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

When  this  intelligence  became  knowif  in  Boise  City, 
every  suspicious  character  disappeared,  and  the  vilest 
gang  of  ruffians  in  Idaho  was  effectually  broken  up.  Op- 
dyke  had  many  friends,  and  was  naturally  a  man  of  genial 
(jualities,  but  he  had  become  corrupted  by  the  evil  associa- 
tions contracted  in  Idaho  Territor3\ 

It  was  believed  by  many,  at  the  time  of  Opdyke's  exe- 
cution, that  he  was  hanged  for  his  money  by  some  of  the 
employees  of  the  Overland  Stage  Company.  This,  how- 
ever, was  a  mistake  in  his  case.  The  \'igilantes  of  Boise 
City  had  determined  upon  his  death  before  he  left  the  city, 
a  measure  they  deemed  necessary  to  rid  the  country  of 
his  associates,  and  establish  peace  in  the  community. 

It  was  true,  however,  that  some  of  the  Overland  Stage 
Company's  employees  were  justly  suspected  of  robbery  and 
murder.  On  one  occasion,  two  miners  from  Boise  City, 
returning  to  the  States,  indiscreetly  exhibited  a  large 
quantity  of  gold  dust  at  Gibson's  Ferry  on  Snake  River, 
which  excited  the  curiosity  of  some  of  the  observers.  They 
were  arrested  on  a  pretence  of  having  spurious  gold  dust, 
and  hanged  by  some  half  dozen  of  the  stage  company's 
employees.  Their  bodies  were  burned,  but  no  account  was 
ever  given  of  the  gold  dust.  No  one  was  deceived  as  to 
the  character  of  this  act.  It  was  the  cold-blooded,  heart- 
less murder  for  their  money,  of  two  honest  miners  who 
were  returning  to  their  homes  with  their  hard-earned  sav- 
ings.    This  was  the  popular  judgment. 


CHAPTER   XLVIII 
A  RIDE  FOR  LIFE 

CRIME,  as  an  organized  force  in  Montana,  ceased 
with  the  execution  of  Plummer  and  his  infamous 
band  early  in  1864.  The  perseverance  with  which  they 
were  pursued,  and  the  swift  punishment  following  their 
capture,  caused  the  few  who  escaped  either  to  leave  the 
Territory  or  abstain  from  crime. 

From  July,  1864,  till  November,  1868,  I  was  collector 
of  internal  revenue  for  Montana.  The  duties  of  the  office 
necessitated  repeated  visits  to  many  of  the  small  gulches 
and  outlying  mining  camps,  accessible  only  by  bridle 
paths.  ]My  horseback  journeys  over  these  ill-defined 
trails,  unmarked  by  any  sign  of  civilization,  would  aggre- 
gate many  thousands  of  miles  —  and  while  such  experi- 
ences were  necessarily  full  of  adventures,  I  regarded  them 
as  nearly  free  from  actual  peril  until  undeceived  by  the 
following  incident : 

Early  in  the  Summer  of  1866  I  visited  all  the  gulches 
and  camps  in  Deer  Lodge  County,  on  a  collecting  trip,  and 
had  arrived  at  Blackfoot,  a  little  town  in  the  county,  where 
one  of  my  deputies  was  located.  With  the  sum  which  he 
had  received,  my  collections  amounted  to  about  $12,000. 
Of  this  amount  $5,000  or  more  was  gold  dust,  which,  at 
$18  an  ounce,  weighed  about  twenty-five  pounds.  With 
the  entire  amount  I  intended  to  leave  the  next  day  on 
horseback  for  Helena  by  way  of  Deer  Lodge,  some  hun- 
dred miles  distant  across  the  Rocky  Mountains.  My 
friend,   Mr.   Murphy,   happened  to  be    in   Blackfoot   on 

485 


486   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

special  business,  and  we  arranged  to  travel  in  company  as 
far  as  Deer  T^odge,  the  county'  seat. 

Late  in  tiie  evening  as  I  was  about  retiring,  Mr.  Mur- 
phy, who  had  been  out  on  business,  came  to  my  room,  and 
in  an  anxious  tone,  said  he  thought  he  had  discovered  a 
plan  on  foot  to  rub  us  tiie  next  da}'. 

"  Go  with  me  down  street,"  said  he,  '*  and  help  me  form 
an  opinion." 

We  strolled  down  to  the  stables  where  our  horses  were, 
and  thence  across  the  street  to  a  billiard  saloon.  Standing 
by  one  of  the  tables,  Mr.  Murphy  directed  my  attention 
to  four  men  seated  in  the  corner  of  the  room,  engaged  in 
close  conversation.  Something  in  their  manner,  their  fur- 
tive glances  under  their  broad-brimmed  hats,  the  pauses 
in  their  conversation  when  approached,  excited  our  sus- 
picions, and  we  concluded  that  as  we  were  the  only  persons 
in  town  known  to  have  money  in  any  considerable  quan- 
tity, it  was  not  improbable  that  Murphy's  suspicions  were 
correct.  There  was  nothing  in  the  appearance  of  the  men 
to  warrant  such  a  conclusion,  but  we  remembered  that 
Plummer  had  the  port  and  bearing  of  a  perfect  gentleman. 

I  returned  to  the  hotel  and  retired  with  a  feeling  of  un- 
easiness that  baffled  sleep,  and  as  I  had  resolved  to  go  on, 
naturally  set  myself  devising  some  method  of  avoiding 
collision  with  these  supposed  freebooters.  I  can  form  no 
idea  now  of  the  number  or  character  of  the  expedients  that 
occurred  to  me,  but  I  remember  that  none  of  them  seemed, 
at  the  time,  to  give  promise  of  escape  or  safety  if  these 
men  had,  as  I  expected,  marked  me  for  their  prey. 

Early  next  morning  Murphy,  who  had  be<.n  keenly  on 
the  alert,  came  to  my  room  and  assured  me  that  our  sus- 
picions were  unfounded. 

"  Those  men,"  he  said,  "  are  honest  miners.  They  left 
:in  hour  ago  to  take  up  claims  on  a  new  discovery.  The 
peculiarities   we  noticed   are  ascribable  to  their  desire   to 


A  RIDE  FOR  LIFE  487 

conceal  the  locality  until  they  have  made  their  choice  of  a 
claim." 

Though  not  fully  reassured,  my  fears  were  greatly  al- 
layed by  this  intelligence,  which  was  seemingly  confirmed 
an  hour  later  on  being  told  by  the  stablekeeper  that  they 
had  gone  to  Bear  Gulch,  where  they  said  they  had  found 
"  something  rich." 

It  was  pleasant  to  feel  that  if  this  information  was  true 
we  should  not  come  in  contact  with  them,  Bear  Gulch  be- 
ing opposite  in  direction  from  our  point  of  destination. 

At  a  bend  in  the  trail,  about  two  miles  down  the  creek, 
we  came  upon  a  log  cabin  saloon  by  the  wayside,  in  front 
of  which  were  hitched  four  horses  and  leaning  beside  the 
door  were  four  double-barrelled  shotguns.  A  glance  was 
sufficient  to  comprehend  the  situation. 

"  Great  Cassar !  Langford,"  said  Murphy  in  an  under- 
tone, "  there  they  are.  We  are  in  for  it  now  beyond  a 
doubt.     Those  fellows  are  after  our  collections." 

Our  coming  had  evidently  been  anticipated,  for  the 
saloonkeeper  stood  in  the  door,  and  with  the  familiarity  of 
an  old  acquaintance  hallooed  to  INIurphy :  "  Come  in,  come 
in ;  bring  3'our  friend  and  take  a  drink." 

"  Thank  you,"  responded  Murphy,  "  I  don't  drink," 
and  deferred  to  me. 

"  I  never  take  anything,  either,"  said  I. 

"  Well,  come  in  and  get  a  cigar  then,"  he  persisted. 

Both  replied  in  a  breath  that  we  did  not  smoke. 

"  That 's  odd,"  said  he,  "  to  meet  two  men  in  the  moun- 
tains that  neither  drink  nor  smoke.  Come  in  anyway,  and 
surprise  your  bowels  with  a  glass  of  cold  water." 

This  old  joke  had  lost  none  of  its  relish  for  the  four 
men  within  the  saloon,  who  hailed  it  with  a  shout  and  hur- 
ried to  the  door.  We  recognized  them  as  the  same  per- 
sons whom  we  had  marked  the  previous  evening,  and  were 
no  longer  in  doubt  concerning  their  purpose,  for  the}'  had 


488   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

left  Blackfoot  in  the  direction  of  Bear  Gulch,  and  by  a 
roundabout  way  had  come  upon  the  Deer  Lodge  trail. 
Reining  our  liorses  with  seeming  unconcern,  we  rode  slowly 
away,  debating,  meanwhile,  what  course  to  pursue. 

"What  do  you  think  of  the  situation?"  I  inquired  of 
Murphj'. 

"  Desperate  enough,"  he  replied.  "  We  're  no  match 
for  those  rascals.  They  can  pick  us  off  very  easily*,  and 
no  one  will  be  the  wiser.  I  feel  inclined  to  go  no  fur- 
ther." 

"  That  '11  not  do,"  I  rejoined,  "  for  if  they  're  bent  on 
robbery  they  can  shoot  us  before  we  could  get  back  to 
Blackfoot." 

"  I  '11  tell  you  what  I  '11  do,"  responded  Murphy,  after  a 
pause  of  a  few  moments,  and  as  if  struck  by  a  sudden 
thought,  added,  "  a  mile  farther  down  the  gulch  I  '11  strike 
a  familiar  trail  over  to  a  ranche  on  the  stage  road,  leave  my 
horse  there  and  take  the  coach  to  Deer  I^odge.  If  my 
horse  were  as  good  as  yours  I  'd  take  the  chances  and  go 
on,  but  this  little  cayuse  would  soon  be  run  down  by  ti)c 
robbers." 

"  I  wish  \'ou  had  a  strong  horse,"  said  I,  "  for  I  dis- 
like very  much  to  take  the  risk  alone." 

"  Sorry,  Langford,"  he  replied,  "  but  you  can  sec  for 
yourself  it  would  be  madness  for  me  to  accompany  you. 
If  they  should  pursue  us  it  would  be  impossible  for  us 
to  keep  together." 

We  had  now  reached  the  trail  leading  to  the  ranche. 
Grasping  his  hand,  "Good-bye,"  said  I;  "if  fortune 
favors  us  we  shall  meet  at  Deer  T^odge.** 

"  Good-bye,  and  the  Lord  go  with  you  and  protect 
you,"  was  his  fervent  rejoinder. 

I  rode  on  at  a  moderate  speed  to  the  crossing  of  the 
Little  lilackfoot,  hoping  that  I  might  fall  in  with  a  fish- 
ing party  there,  as  the  stro-nn  w.is  full  of  trout  and  often 


A  RIDE  FOR  LIP^E  489 

resorted  to  by  the  miners  and  ranchemen  for  a  day's  recrea- 
tion. The  valley  of  the  Blackfoot  at  this  ford,  and  for  a 
long  distance  above  and  below  it,  along  the  river,  is  cov- 
ered with  a  dense  willow  copse,  which  even  at  the  distance 
of  a  few  feet  would  conceal  a  party  from  a  passer-by.  I 
looked  and  listened  for  friendly  faces  and  voices  after 
fording  the  stream,  and  while  riding  through  the  coppice. 
Uncheercd  by  any  sign  of  life,  I  seemed  to  derive  a  sense 
of  immediate  safety  from  the  thought  that  my  pursuers 
would  be  restrained  from  attacking  me  in  the  valley,  lest 
they  should  be  surprised  by  the  sudden  appearance  of  an 
impromptu  rescuing  party. 

Ascending  the  plateau  at  the  base  of  a  long,  steep  hill, 
I  cast  a  furtive  glance  backward  and  saw  at  the  distance 
of  a  few  hundred  yards  the  four  ruffians  approaching  at  a 
gallop.  ]\Iy  heart  sank  within  me,  and  for  a  moment  I 
abandoned  all  hope  of  escape. 

It  was,  however,  for  a  moment  only.  Stealing  another 
look,  I  saw  that  the  party  were  deceived  by  the  leisurely 
manner  in  which  I  was  travelling,  and  had  reined  their 
horses  into  a  walk.  Acting  upon  the  belief  that  they  in- 
tended to  delay  an  attack  until  I  had  crossed  the  hill,  I 
alighted  from  my  horse,  loosened  the  saddle  girth,  to  favor 
his  respiration,  and  walked  beside  him  two  miles  to  the 
summit,  followed  by  the  ruffians  at  a  distance  of  about  three 
hundred  yards.  I  felt  that  if  I  could  put  a  mile  between 
us  my  horse  would  achieve  the  race  I  saw  before  me. 

"  Ned  "  possessed  wonderful  powers  of  endurance,  and 
was  said  to  be  the  best  four-mile  horse  in  the  Bitter  Root 
Valley,  where  he  was  raised,  and,  though  often  beaten  in  a 
race  of  one,  two,  or  even  three  miles,  had  been  often  tried 
and  as  uniformly  succeeded  where  the  distance  was  ex- 
tended to  four  miles.  I  had  often  tested  his  staying  pow- 
ers, having  once  ridden  him  eighty-five  miles  and  once 
again   ninety-four  miles,  from  Virginia  City  to   Berkin's 


490   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

ranchc  in  Boulder  Valley,  in  one  day;  on  another  occa- 
sion, when  Governor  Green  Clay  Smith  had  requested  nie 
to  act  as  messenger  to  convey  to  Colonel  Howie,  the 
commander  of  the  militia  in  camp  in  Helena,  130  miles 
distant,  the  news  of  a  reported  Indian  uprising,  all  tele- 
graphic communication  being  suspended,  he  carried  me 
ninety-seven  miles  in  fifteen  hours,  from  Virginia  City  to 
]Jarkley's  ranche,  where  I  obtained  another  mount,  and 
completed  the  journey  within  twenty  hours. 

With  a  mile  in  my  favor,  the  little  ponies  ridden  by  the 
pursuers  could  not  overtake  me. 

While  these  thoughts  occurred  to  me  as  affording  a 
possible  means  of  escape,  the  brigands  doubtless  felt  that 
as  soon  as  I  began  to  descend  the  hill  they  would  have 
me  at  their  mercy.  Immediately  after  passing  the  crown 
of  the  hill  I  lost  sight  of  them.  Tightening  the  girth  I 
sprang  into  the  saddle  and  urged  my  horse  to  his  utmost 
speed.  The  narrow  trail  was  thickly  studded  with  bould- 
ers rising  several  inches  above  the  surface,  over  which  m\ 
horse  took  many  a  flying  leap,  and  I  was  not  without  ap- 
prehension that  an  unlucky  stumble  of  my  faithful  Ned  in 
attempting  to  clear  them  might  unhorse  me. 

When  the  robbers  reached  the  top  of  the  divide  and  saw 
me  at  full  speed  a  mile  in  advance  they  comprehended  the 
ruse,  and  putting  spurs  to  their  horses,  gave  me  instant 
chase. 

It  was  then  that  my  race  for  life  began.  They  gained 
upon  me  rapidly  at  the  commencement,  and  at  one  time 
were  so  near  that  I  could  hear  the  labored  breathing  of 
their  horses.  So  close,  indeed,  were  they  that  I  seized 
my  cantinas  with  the  purpose  of  casting  the  twenty-five 
pound  sack  of  gold  dust  into  the  first  sheltered  nook  I  could 
see  by  the  wayside  to  lighten  the  burden  of  my  horse.  No 
opportunity  offered,  however,  that  would  have  escaped  the 
sight  of  those   in   jnirsult,  and   I  replaced  the  sack,  and 


A  RIDE  FOR  LIFE  491 

with  the  weight  in  excess  of  two  hundred  pounds  my  gal- 
lant horse  strove  on  with  unabated  speed  until  I  saw  one 
by  one  the  horses  of  the  robbers  worn  out  by  exhaustion. 
Two  of  them  that  followed  longest  finally  closed  the 
pursuit  with  an  infernal  yell  and  gave  up  the  chase. 

After  an  urgent  ride  of  two  or  three  miles  farther  I 
completed  the  trip  by  a  slow  pace  through  the  Deer 
Lodge  Valley,  and  the  next  morning  took  the  coach  from 
Deer  Lodge  City  to  Helena,  thankful  for  an  escape  from 
a  peril  I  hope  never  again  to  encounter. 


CHAPTER   XLIX 
AN  INTERESTING  ADVENTURE 

FOR  the  first  three  or  four  years  after  the  settlement 
of  jMontuna,  a  favorite  mode  of  returning  to  the 
States  was  by  Mackinaw  boat,  down  one  or  tlic  otlicr  of 
the  two  great  rivers  whose  upper  waters  traverse  the  Ter- 
ritory. The  water  trip,  if  not  less  exposed  to  Indian 
attack,  was  plcasanter,  less  laborious  and  expensive, 
and  sooner  accomplished  than  the  long,  weary  journey  by 
the  ])lain.s. 

The  upper  portions,  botli  of  the  Missouri  and  Yellow- 
stone, pass  through  a  country  abounding  in  some  of  the 
grandest,  most  uni(iue,  and  most  richly  diversified  scenery 
on  the  continent.  Of  themselves  tlie  rivers  are  very  beau- 
tiful,—  their  waters  pure,  cold,  broken  into  frequent 
rapids;  at  one  moment  passing  through  tremendous 
canons  and  gorges;  at  the  next,  babbling  along  widespread 
meads;  and  anon,  as  if  by  a  transformation  of  enchant- 
ment, dashing  into  the  midst  of  a  desolation  which  real- 
izes all  the  descriptive  horrors  of  Dante's  "  Inferno," — 
affording  to  the  eye  a  greater  variety  of  picturesque 
beauty  than  any  of  tlie  other  great  rivt-rs  of  the  conti- 
nent. A  journey  down  them  in  a  Mackinaw  boat  is  an  in- 
cident to  fill  a  prominent  place  in  the  most  adventurous 
life. 

The  point  selected  for  embarkation  on  the  Yellowstone 
was  about  twelve  miles  above  the  spot  wliere  Captain 
Chirk  started  on  his  descent  of  the  river,  wjien  return- 
ing from  the  famous  expedition  of  1804-OG.      An  isolated 

49-2 


INTERESTING  ADVENTURE      493 

grove  of  lofty  cottonwoods  has  grown  upon  the  only  soil 
within  miles,  under  the  overhanging  crags  of  a  canon 
whose  sombre  walls  lift  themselves  three  thousand  feet 
or  more  into  the  atmosphere.  The  river  glides  through 
those  strong  jaws  with  the  swiftness  and  silence  of  a  huge 
serpent  escaping  its  pursuers,  forming  an  eddy  just  in 
front  of  the  grove,  which,  being  convenient  of  access,  was 
early  selected  as  a  favorable  place  for  the  construction  of 
boats  and  embarkation  of  companies. 

At  this  grove,  in  the  Fall  of  1865,  a  company  of  six 
hundred  persons  commenced,  in  forty-three  boats  of  dif- 
ferent patterns,  the  long  journey  of  three  thousand  miles 
to  the  States.  The  distance  to  the  mouth  of  the  Yellow- 
stone was  eight  hundred  and  twenty  miles,  and  little  more 
was  known  of  its  general  character  at  that  time  than 
could  be  derived  from  the  geographical  memoir  written 
by  Captain  Clark  sixty  years  before.  A  gentleman  who 
belonged  to  the  party  has  informed  me  that,  after  the 
first  day's  sail,  he  had  learned  to  confide  so  fully  in  this 
narrative  for  geographical  accuracy,  that  he  was  enabled 
to  anticipate,  long  before  reaching  them,  every  prominent 
landmark  and  rapid  mentioned  in  it.  No  better  geograph- 
ers than  Lewis  and  Clark  have,  since  their  time,  visited  the 
country  which  they  explored ;  but  their  book,  valuable  as 
it  must  ever  prove  for  its  historical  and  topographical 
accuracy,  left  untold  the  surpassing  grandeur  and  novelty 
of  the  scenes  through  which  they  passed.  There  is  not  a 
river  in  the  world  which,  for  its  entire  length  of  one  thou- 
sand miles,  presents  with  the  same  grandeur  and  magnifi- 
cence so  much  of  novelty  and  variety  in  the  stupendous 
natural  architecture  that  adorns  its  banks.  Its  source  is 
in  a  beautiful  lake,  unlike,  in  general  character  and  ap- 
pearance, any  other  body  of  water  on  the  globe.  It  is  sur- 
rounded by  innumerable  warm  and  hot  springs,  sulphur 
deposits,  and  mud  volcanoes.     At  a  few  miles'  distance  is 


494   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

the  largest  geyser  basin  in  tlic  world,  and  close  at  hand 
stupendous  cataracts  and  beautiful  cascades.  Here,  too, 
is  a  canon  which  for  forty  miles  of  distance  is  filled  with 
physical  wonders,  so  numerous,  strange,  and  various  as  to 
defy  description,  and  almost  surpass  comprehension. 

Two  hundred  miles  below  this  inmiense  field  of  novel- 
ties, we  arrive  at  the  mouth  of  the  canon  whence  the  river 
has  been  of  late  years  frequently  navigated,  by  Mackinaw 
and  flat  boats,  to  its  union  with  the  Missouri.  Of  this 
portion,  but  little  has  yet  been  written  except  by  scientific 
explorers.  For  the  first  eighty  miles  of  the  distance,  the 
river,  almost  a  continuous  rapid,  rolls  between  gently  un- 
dulating banks,  dotted  at  intervals  with  clumps  of  stunted 
pines.  Frequent  ledges  of  rock  jut  into  the  stream,  and 
wherever  a  bend  or  projection  has  served  to  arrest  the 
flow  of  debris  in  time  of  flood,  or  catch  the  detritus 
washed  from  the  rocks,  a  little  bottom  aflfords  sustenance 
to  a  dense  growth  of  majestic  cottonwoods.  This  feature 
is  prominent  in  the  river  scenery  until  the  stream  enters 
the  Bad  Lands,  four  hundred  miles  below  the  canon. 
These  groves,  unlike  the  irregular  groves  that  adorn  the 
Kastern  rivers,  present  to  the  voyager  a  straight  regular 
outline  on  all  sides,  a  feature  imparted  to  them  by  the 
beavers,  which  cut  down  unsparingly  both  great  and  small 
trees  outside  the  given  spaces.  This  perfect  regularity, 
always  at  right  angles  with  the  upland  shore,  gives  to 
these  frequent  groves  the  appearance  of  artificial  cultiva- 
tion, and  in  the  very  midst  of  one  of  the  most  boundless 
solitudes  in  the  world,  the  observer  frequently  finds  him- 
self indulging  a  thought  that  there  may  be  some  old 
mediaeval  castle  still  standing  within  the  shadow  of  these 
trees. 

After  one  has  saileil  about  eighty  miles,  and  finds  him- 
self descending  an  expansive  reach  of  the  river,  the  eye  is 
suddenly  attracted  by  the  appearance  on  the  right  of  an 


INTERESTING  ADVENTURE      41)5 

immense  and  seemingly  interminable  ridge  of  yellow  rocks, 
very  liigli,  precipitous,  and  crowned  along  its  summit  by 
a  forest  of  stunted  pines.  It  is  several  miles  distant,  and 
its  sheer,  vertical  sides  gleam  in  the  sunlight  like  massive 
gold.  Far  away  it  stretches,  seenn'ngly  on  an  air  line  be- 
yond the  field  of  vision,  presenting  few  inequalities  of 
surface,  and  none  of  the  features  of  ordinary  mountain 
scenery. 

The  Happy  Valley  of  Rassclas  was  not  more  strongly 
protected  against  outside  intrusions  by  the  precipices  sur- 
rounding it,  than  is  this  portion  of  the  Yellowstone  Valley 
from  all  access  by  those  who  dwell  beyond  this  ridge  of 
sandstone. 

At  a  distance  of  ten  miles  or  more  from  where  it  first 
appears,  the  river  has  worn  its  way  through  it.  We  enter 
the  massive  gorge.  Higher  and  higher  rise  the  gleaming 
cliffs,  seemingly  straight  up  from  the  river's  bed,  until 
sunlight  disappears,  and  the  blue  sky  above  you  spans 
like  a  roof  the  confronting  crags.  The  illusion  vanishes 
with  decreasing  height,  the  gloom  painted  in  darkness 
upon  the  frightened  stream  grows  again  into  sunlight,  and 
for  the  next  few  miles  you  pass  through  banks  of  green 
adorned  on  either  hand  with  citadels,  temples,  towers,  tur- 
rets, spires,  and  castellated  ruins,  all  deftly  wrought  by 
the  wind  and  rain  upon  the  exposed  portions  of  the  yel- 
low rock.  Neither  the  Hudson,  with  its  green  hills  and 
massive  knobs,  nor  the  Columbia,  with  its  crags  and  beet- 
ling cliffs,  presents  anything  at  all  comparable  to  this. 
At  one  moment  you  look  up  at  the  sheer  sides  of  a  temple 
wrought  into  a  form  not  unlike  that  of  Edfou  or  Den- 
derah,  except  as  it  surpasses  them  in  its  magnificent  di- 
mensions, all  its  sides  presenting  in  the  vitrified  fractures 
of  the  layers  of  rock,  regular  rows  of  seeming  hieroglyph- 
ics, and  its  conical,  time-worn  summit,  gray  and  smooth 
with  the  frosts  and  storms  of  centuries.     A  little  bevond 


496   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

stand  the  remains  of  a  castle;  and  still  farther  on,  seem- 
ingly equidistant  from  each  other,  three  or  four  stately 
towers ;  then  comes  a  massive  citadel  of  stone,  with  em- 
brasures, walls,  and  portholes,  all  the  apparent  parapher- 
nalia of  a  mighty  fortress. 

These  scenes,  with  all  the  variety  that  Nature  observes 
in  her  works,  occur  at  intervals  of  thirty  or  forty  miles, 
every  time  the  river  penetrates  the  ridge,  for  a  distance  of 
two  hundred  miles ;  and  all  the  way  between  these  pas- 
sages, on  one  side  or  the  other  of  the  beautiful  stream, 
you  behold  stretching  along  upon  the  most  exact  of  nat- 
ural lines  the  pine-crowned  ridge  itself,  skirted  b}'  meadows 
reaching  to  the  margin.  Before  quite  losing  this  grand 
exhibition,  the  river,  fed  by  Clark's  Fork,  the  Rosebud, 
and  the  Big  Horn,  changes  its  character.  The  waters  be- 
come dark  and  turbid,  and  spread  out  to  more  than  a  mile 
in  width.  The  valley  expands  correspondingly,  and  the 
foothills  and  mountains  are  more  distant.  About  mid- 
way of  this  passage  through  the  yellow  sandstone,  Pom- 
pey's  Pillar,  a  table  of  rock  separated  by  the  river  from 
the  main  ridge,  stands  isolated,  towering  to  a  height  of 
several  hundred  feet  over  the  plain,  on  the  brink  opposite. 
Its  summit  of  less  than  half  an  acre,  accessible  with  diffi- 
culty on  the  inland  side,  according  to  Captain  Clark,  af- 
fords an  extensive  view  of  the  surrounding  country. 

At  the  mouth  of  the  Big  Horn  the  last  view  of  the  Rocky 
Mountains,  which  thus  far  have  enlivened  the  scenery  with 
their  varied  phenomena  of  storm  and  sunlight,  fades  upon 
the  vision,  and  your  voyage  lies  for  several  miles  through 
a  richer  agricultural  region  than  any  you  have  yet  seen. 
Here  are  fine  meadows  covered  with  bunch-grass,  and, 
upon  the  distant  hills,  herds  of  elks,  flocks  of  mountain 
sh.eep,  antelopes,  and  deer.  The  temptation,  often  too 
great  to  be  resisted,  makes  the  hunter  forgetful  of  Crows 
and  Sioux,  and  sometimes  lures   him   to   his   death.      The 


INTERESTING  ADVENTURE      497 

rapids  now  become  less  frequent,  though  several  of  them 
are  more  forniidable.  At  one  point,  where  the  river  passes 
through  the  ridge  for  a  distance  of  six  miles,  it  has  no 
channel  of  sufficient  depth  to  float  an  ordinary  ]\Iackinaw, 
and  voyagers  are  obliged  by  main  force  to  push  their 
boats  into  the  pool  below.  Captain  Clark  gave  to  this 
obstruction  the  name  of  Buffalo  Shoals.  A  few  miles 
below  this  he  saw,  in  the  midst  of  a  formidable  rapid,  a 
grizzly  bear  upon  a  rock,  and  gave  to  the  place  the  name 
of  Bear  Rapids. 

The  early  hunters  and  trappers  of  the  Northwest  found 
no  region  more  favorable  for  their  pursuit  than  the  cen- 
tral valley  of  the  Yellowstone.  Here  came  Ashley,  and 
Bridger,  and  Culbertson,  and  Sarpie,  as  early  as  1817. 
The  latter  built  a  fort,  which  he  called  Fort  Alexander, 
some  remains  of  which  are  still  standing  on  the  margin  of 
one  of  the  most  delightful  meadows  in  the  valley. 

The  last  and  most  fearful  rapid  of  the  Yellowstone  is 
near  the  mouth  of  the  Tongue  River,  and  was  named  by 
Captain  Clark,  Wolf  Rapid,  because  he  killed  a  wolf  near 
it.  The  river  is  here  lashed  into  a  fury.  The  roar  of  the 
rapid  is  heard  for  several  miles,  and  the  tossing  spray 
and  seething  foam  can  be  seen  at  considerable  distance. 
The  experiment  of  descending  it  has  much  to  excite  the 
fears  of  a  person  unaccustomed  to  river  travels,  but  as 
yet  it  has  been  unmarked  by  accident. 

Below  this  rapid  we  enter  upon  the*  last  one  hundred 
and  eighty  miles  between  us  and  the  Missouri.  The  river, 
which  to  this  point  has  displayed  its  beauties  in  long 
reaches  of  ten  and  twelve  miles,  now  becomes  crooked  like 
the  ^Missouri.  Its  banks  are  constantly  crumbling,  and  its 
channel  as  constantly  shifting.  Everything  in  sight  but 
adds  to  the  desolation  of  the  scenery,  and  the  traveller 
finds  it  hard  to  realize  that  he  is  sailing  on  the  same  river 
which  he  beheld  but  yesterday  so  gloriously  arrayed.   The 


498   VIGir.ANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

same  general  features  are  apparent  to  Its  mouth.  It  is 
imioh  larger  and  wider  than  the  Missouri  at  its  junction 
with  it,  and  increases  to  more  than  twice  its  size  the  lat- 
ter, which,  as  all  are  aware,  for  more  than  a  thousand 
miles  below  the  Yellowstone  has  fewer  attractions  than 
any  other  river  in  the  world. 

Not  so,  however,  the  upper  Missouri.  That,  like  the 
Yellowstone,  passes  through  a  picturesque  and  beautiful 
country.  From  its  source,  where  the  Madison,  Jefferson, 
and  Gallatin  unite  to  form  it,  to  Fort  Benton,  a  distance 
of  two  hundred  miles,  it  exhibits  a  great  variety  of  inter- 
esting and  stupendous  scenery,  both  of  water,  valley,  rock, 
and  mountain.  There  are  the  Great  Falls,  the  Gate  of  the 
Mountains,  and  the  passage  of  the  river  through  numer- 
ous canons,  which,  in  any  other  portion  of  the  country 
than  the  mountains  and  rocks  of  Montana,  would  be  un- 
paralleled for  grandeur  and  sublimity. 

Fort  Benton,  one  of  the  early  posts  built  by  the  Ameri- 
can and  Northwestern  Fur  Companies,  is  at  the  virtual 
head  of  steamboat  navigation  on  the  Missouri,  in  the 
midst  of  a  country  formerly  occupied  by  the  Blackfeet 
Indians, —  the  most  implacable  of  all  the  mountain  tribes 
in  their  hatred  of  the  whites.  From  the  time  of  the  arrival 
of  the  first  settlers  of  Montana  in  1862,  until  the  com- 
pletion of  railroads  into  the  Territory,  Fort  Benton  was 
tile  conunercial  depot  of  the  Territory.  During  the  period 
of  high  water  every  spring  it  is  visited  by  steamboats 
frrighted  at  St.  Louis  with  merchandise  for  the  great 
number  of  traders  In  the  interior  towns.  A  considerable 
town  has  sprung  up  within  the  shadows  of  the  old  post. 

A  trip  from  Fort  Benton  to  the  States  in  a  Mackinaw, 
though  full  of  danger,  was  always  inviting,  while  the 
same  trip  by  the  overland  stage,  though  comparatively 
safe,  was  ever  repulsive-.  In  the  latter  part  of  August, 
18()(5,  Andrew  J.   Sinnnons,  a  citi/en   of  Helena,  and   ten 


INTERESTING  ADVENTURE      499 

companions,  after  a  wagon  journey  of  one  hundred  and 
forty  miles,  alighted  on  the  levee  at  Fort  Benton,  en  route 
to  the  States.  In  a  letter  to  me  descriptive  of  this  jour- 
ney, Mr.  Simmons  writes : 

"  The  varied  fortunes  and  migrating  tendencies  of  the  gold 
miner,  in  following  the  great  periodical  excitements,  had  cast 
our  lots  together  through  rough  and  pleasant  places,  through 
adversity  and  prosperity  in  many  of  the  mining  camps  of  the 
Pacific  slope;  and  now,  having  accomplished  a  successful  min- 
ing season  in  the  Rocky  Mountains,  a  visit  to  home  and  friends 
was  determined  upon  by  descending  the  Missouri  River  in  a 
Mackinaw.  In  three  days  our  craft  was  completed.  She  was 
as  stanch  as  pine  lumber  and  nails  could  make  her.  She  was 
thirty-three  feet  in  length,  seven  and  a  half  feet  beam,  and 
ten  inches  rake.  Sharp  at  both  ends,  and  ample  for  our 
accommodation,  she  was  a  trim  built,  rakish-looking  craft, 
which  rode  the  current  majestically,  and  challenged  the  ad- 
miration of  all  observers. 

"  Delighted  with  the  success  of  our  experiment  in  boat- 
building, and  animated  with  hope  of  a  safe  and  speedy  pas- 
sage through  the  two  thousand  miles  of  hostile  Indian  country, 
we  quickly  deposited  our  personal  effects  and  various  crea- 
ture comforts  in  the  little  vessel,  which  we  called  the  Self 
Riser,  and  got  everything  in  readiness  for  embarkation.  We 
felt,  indeed,  that  the  bright  visions  of  home,  which  had 
cheered  us  through  many  years  of  wandering,  were  soon  to  be 
realized.  We  had  just  taken  a  parting  glass  with  the  friends 
assembled  on  the  levee  to  witness  our  departure,  and  the  fare- 
well hand-shaking  and  good  wishes  were  in  progress,  when  a 
young  man,  seemingly  not  more  than  twenty,  approached  me, 
and  in  an  imploring  voice  and  manner  asked  a  passage  with 
us  down  the  river.  There  was  something  so  touching  in  the 
low,  sad  tones  of  his  voice,  and  his  subdued  manner,  that  I 
involuntarily,  and  on  the  instant,  found  myself  deeply  inter- 
ested in  him.  He  was  a  stranger  to  us  all,  but  his  pleasant, 
honest  face,  lit  up  by  a  pair  of  expressive  eyes,  disarmed  all 
suspicions  unfavorable  to  his  character;  and  it  was  with  real 


500  VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

regret  tliat  I  told  him,  with  a  view  of  breaking  my  refusal  as 
lii^litlv  as  ))o.s.sibh',  that  our  party  was  made  up  of  old  com- 
rades, who  had  seen  much  service  together,  and  had  jointly  out- 
fitted for  the  trip  with  the  understanding  that  the  company 
should  not  be  increased. 

"  I  was  about  to  turn  away  and  join  my  comrades,  who  had 
already  got  into  the  boat,  when  he  persisted, 

"  '  For  the  love  of  God,  sir,  do  not  refuse  me !  I  am  here 
alone  among  strangers,  and  have  met  with  many  misfortunes 
in  this  country.  If  you  do  not  take  me,  I  shall  lose  my  last 
chance  of  returning  to  my  friends  and  relatives.' 

"  I  could  not  resist  the  power  of  this  appeal.  After  a  few 
words  of  hasty  consultation  with  my  companions,  it  was  agreed 
that  the  young  man  should  accompany  us.  Never  shall  I  for- 
get liis  look  of  mingled  joy  and  gratitude  when  I  told  him  to 
come  on  board.  Our  moorings  were  then  cut  loose,  and  with 
many  a  shout  and  cheer  we  bore  down  upon  the  rapid  cur- 
rent. When  night  approached  we  did  not,  as  was  usual  with 
voyagers,  make  land  and  remain  until  morning,  but  sailed  on, 
bringing  to  for  the  first  time  early  in  the  afternoon  of  the  next 
day  at  the  mouth  of  Judith  River.  There  we  made  camp 
under  the  branching  cottonwoods,  one  himdred  and  forty  miles 
from  our  place  of  embarkation.  Our  larder  had  been  replen- 
ished on  the  trip  witli  three  fat  antelopes  and  a  buffalo  cow, 
shot  from  the  boat  as  we  floated  along.  We  had  also  con- 
trived to  form  the  acquaintance  of  our  new  passenger,  but 
without  learning  much  of  his  history.  There  was  something 
.ibout  him  when  questioned  as  to  his  life  in  the  mountains 
which  impressed  us  with  the  idea  that  he  was  guarding  a  secret 
it  would  cost  him  great  pain  to  reveal.  Respect  for  his 
sensibility  soon  overcame  all  curiosity  on  the  subject,  and  so 
the  ))oor  boy  was  only  known  to  us  by  the  unromantic  name  of 
'  Johnny.'  His  skill  with  the  pistol,  exhibited  on  several  oc- 
casions on  our  first  day  out,  won  him  the  favor  of  every  man 
in  the  party.  We  all  felt  that  in  his  way  '  Johnny  '  was  one 
of  us,  but  his  way  was  not  like  ours.  We  soon  discovered  that 
the  rough  life  to  whieh  we  had  been  accustomed  had  no  charms 
for   him.      He   neither  indulged   in   coarse   jokes   himself   nor 


INTERESTING  ADVENTURE      501 

enjoyed  them  in  others,  no  profane  expressions  escaped  his 
lips,  and  we  were  kept  constantly  upon  our  guard  by  some  in- 
describable delicacy  of  demeanor  on  his  part,  which  com- 
manded our  respect.  Neither  could  we  impose  on  him  any  of 
the  severe  toil  of  the  voyage,  but  in  all  the  lighter  duties  no 
man  was  more  faithful  than  he,  nor  more  grateful  for  re- 
lief from  any  labor  that  overtasked  his  strength. 

"  We  had  feasted  to  repletion  on  antelope  and  buffalo  at 
our  first  camping-place,  and  when  the  hour  for  resting  came, 
the  question  arose  what  should  be  done  with  Johnny.  He  had 
no  blankets,  and  there  was  no  alternative  but  that  Hum- 
phrey and  I  should  give  him  a  place  with  us.  So  he  became 
our  joint  bedfellow  for  the  trip. 

"  We  left  at  dawn,  and  before  mid-day  entered  upon  that 
marvellous  tract  of  country  which  as  yet  has  received  no  more 
appropriate  name  than  the  '  Bad  Lands.'  This  significant 
title,  translated  from  the  original  French,  Mauvaises  Terres, 
has  been  given  to  an  immense  tract  of  barren  country  stretch- 
ing for  more  than  a  thousand  miles  along  the  Missouri  and 
Yellowstone;  but  the  portion  to  which  I  here  allude  is  but  a 
single  and  remarkable  feature  of  this  vast  earthen  desert,  and 
should  receive  a  more  distinctive  appellation.  The  Missouri 
at  this  point,  for  a  distance  of  thirty  miles  or  more,  passes 
through  a  ledge  of  talcose  rock.  Its  color  is  a  dusky  white. 
Twelve  miles  of  this  distance  the  entire  face  of  the  rock  upon 
either  bank  of  the  river  has  been  eroded  by  the  elements  into 
countless  forms,  which  suggest  a  thousand  resemblances  to  ar- 
tificial and  natural  objects,  in  some  instances  so  exact  as  al- 
most to  deceive  a  casual  observer.  No  other  spot  in  the  world 
has  yet  been  discovered  which  can  boast  of  such  an  exten- 
sive display  of  eroded  rock.  The  river  is  confined  between 
precipitous  banks  a  hundred  or  more  feet  in  height,  and  all 
along  the  jagged  and  broken  surface,  extending  from  the  edge 
of  these  vertical  walls  beyond  the  range  of  vision,  these  objects 
are  distributed.  It  seems  as  if  all  the  pantheons  and  art  gal- 
leries of  the  world  had  been  emptied  of  their  contents  here. 
In  one  place  is  an  immense  round  table  with  a  large  company 
gathered  around,  realizing  at  a  single  glance  the  legendary 


502  VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

stories  of  Arthur  and  his  knights.  Through  a  little  nook  may 
be  seen  a  number  of  forms  that  will  rmiind  one  of  the  Saviour 
and  his  diseiples.  Then  again  suddenly  springs  into  view  a 
large  gathering  of  people,  as  if  assembled  upon  some  public 
occasion.  Men  in  every  position,  women,  angels,  animals, 
mausoleums,  may  be  seen,  and  in  their  immediate  vicinity  are 
larger  forms  suggestive  of  dwellings,  churches,  and  cottages. 
On  the  extreme  point  of  one  of  the  bends  in  the  river  stands 
the  most  exquisitely  fretted  castle  of  imperial  dimensions ; 
spires,  minarets,  towers,  and  domes  scattered  over  it  in  great 
profusion.  This  single  object  is  larger  than  the  Capitol  at 
Washington.  One  nearly  as  large,  and  presenting  points  of 
great  interest,  stands  diagonally  from  it,  on  the  opposite  side 
of  the  river.  Buildings  with  long  lines  of  colonnades,  citadels 
with  embrasured  parapets  and  bastions  at  their  several  angles, 
may  be  seen  on  every  hand.  The  exhibition  is  very  beautiful, 
and  so  unlike  any  other  exhibition  of  natural  art,  as  to  excite 
the  wonder  not  less  than  the  admiration  of  all  beholders.  The 
diflference  between  these  and  the  eroded  rocks  of  the  Yellow- 
stone is  in  color  and  size.  The  Missouri  erosions  are  much 
more  delicate,  and  not  confined  to  arcliitectural  forms  alone, 
but  they  embrace  statuary,  furniture,  vessels,  chariots,  and  al- 
most every  object  in  the  natural  world.  They  are,  moreover, 
nearly  white,  and  their  surfaces  gleam  in  the  sunlight  with 
all  the  beauty  of  polished  marble.  Awestruck  at  the  multi- 
plicity and  grandeur  of  the  various  objects  which  met  our 
gaze,  we  floated  through  this  region  of  wonders  as  silently  as 
if  it  had  been  a  city  of  the  dead.  It  did  not  seem  possible  as 
we  sailed  under  the  shadow  of  these  immense  citadels,  that 
they  were  the  mere  creation  of  the  elements,  and  had  never 
been  the  abodes  of  men. 

"  The  navigation  of  a  Mackinaw  boat  over  this  portion  of 
the  river  was  intensely  interesting.  Our  light  craft,  imiielled 
by  sails  and  a  raj)id  current,  easily  at  the  command  of  the 
helmsman,  would  sheer  around  the  huge  rocks  and  dash  through 
the  foaming  rapids,  sweeping  bends,  crooked  channels,  and  in- 
numerable islands  and  sand-bars.  The  scene  was  constantly 
changing,  and  new  objects  of  interest   presenting  themselves. 


INTERESTING  ADVENTURE      503 

"  Early  on  the  morning  of  tlir  third  day,  one  of  our  com- 
l)any  Hrcd  at  a  bhick-tailed  deer,  standing  midway  to  the  sum- 
mit of  a  lofty  cliff.  The  animal  rolled  down  the  declivity  al- 
most to  the  water's  edge.  Tlie  shot  was  pronounced  remark- 
able. Out  of  compliment  to  the  skill  of  the  marksman,  as  well 
as  to  appease  the  cravings  of  appetite,  we  immediately  landed, 
built  a  fire,  and  proceeded  to  roast  and  '  scoff,'  after  the  ap- 
proved manner  of  hunters,  the  tender  ribs  and  haunches,  fur- 
nishing a  meal  which  all  agreed  surpassed  anything  known  to 
the  modern  cuisine.  Perhaps  this  was  attributable  to  the  fact 
that  we  were  hungry,  but  then  the  delicious  flavor  of  the  veni- 
son was  not  spoiled  by  villainous  cookery.  Our  dessert  consisted 
of  canned  fruit  and  coffee,  the  whole  moistened  with  a  moderate 
flow  of  Bourbon  drunk  from  tin  cups.  After  our  repast  was 
finished,  we  resumed  our  journey  in  the  happiest  mood,  with 
the  spirit  and  dash  of  adventurers  who  felt  themselves  equal  to 
any  emergency.  At  noon  we  came  upon  the  steamboat  Luella, 
which,  owing  to  the  falling  of  the  river,  had  left  Fort  Benton 
some  weeks  before,  and  was  lying  below  Dauphin's  Rapids, 
where  her  passengers,  who  were  coming  down  in  small  boats, 
were  to  join  her  for  the  trip  to  St.  Louis.  The  river,  which 
owes  its  spring  flood  to  the  early  rains  and  dissolving  snows 
in  the  mountain  ranges,  seldom  affords  sufficient  dejDth  later 
than  July  for  steamboats  to  pass  over  Dauphin's  and  Dead- 
Man's  rapids,  the  two  great  obstructions  to  its  upper  naviga- 
tion. Indeed  it  was  matter  of  speculation  whether  the 
Luella  would  be  able  at  this  late  period  in  the  season  to  make 
the  trip  until  after  another  rise.  We  remained  long  enough 
to  exchange  compliments  with  Captain  Marsh,  and  present- 
ing him  with  a  quantity  of  game  for  his  lady  passengers,  re- 
sumed our  voyage. 

"  While  descending  the  river  the  forenoon  of  the  next 
day,  we  saw  on  the  right  bank  half  a  mile  ahead,  three 
monster  bears.  They  were  taking  a  social  drink  from  the 
river.  As  soon  as  they  had  finished,  they  strolled  leisurely 
up  the  bank  and  disappeared  in  the  cottonwoods.  Landing  at 
the  spot,  all  hands  seized  their  weapons  and  started  enthu- 
siastically in  pursuit  of  them.     We  followed  their  huge  tracks 


504  VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

in  the  sand  up  a  low  coulee,  to  the  top  of  the  bluflF,  and  there 
formed  in  line  and  ])roceeded  by  the  flank  into  the  ehaparral, 
their  tracks  growing  larger  and  fresher  as  we  advanced,  un- 
til suddenly  the  huge  monsters  confronted  us  at  a  distance  of 
about  thirty  paces.  Seated  on  their  haunches,  their  heads 
towering  above  the  shrubbery,  jaws  extended,  and  paws  sway- 
ing to  and  fro,  they  by  short  and  eager  snuffs,  growls,  and 
snaps,  gave  us  an  acute  sense  of  the  danger  we  had  mistaken 
for  sport.  Our  appetite  for  bear  meat  weakened  much  quicker 
tlian  it  came,  and  old  '  Forty-niner,'  who  had  served  a  long 
apprenticeship  in  California,  coming  up  at  this  moment,  on 
seeing  the  animals,  raised  and  fired  his  rifle,  shouting  in  a 
voice  of  terror,  '  Holy  Jupiter  !  Tliey  are  grizzlies  !  '  and 
turned  and  ran  like  a  demoralized  jack-rabbit  in  the  direc- 
tion of  the  boat.  Suddenly  recollecting  tliat  it  was  the  black 
bear  and  not  the  grizzly  we  were  in  pursuit  of,  we  all  fol- 
lowed his  example.  Humphrey,  slowly  bringing  up  the  rear, 
proposed  that  we  should  '  give  them  a  round.'  To  this  I 
assented,  but  urged  as  a  preliminary  that  we  should  get  out 
of  the  brush  and  within  striking  distance  of  the  boat.  Before 
M'e  could  do  so,  however,  the  foremost  bear  made  a  plunge  for 
Humphrey,  who,  facing  him,  with  his  gun  at  his  shoulder, 
fired  with  so  true  an  aim,  that  the  great  beast  with  a  somer- 
sault fell  forward  at  his  feet,  and  with  a  roar  of  pain  ex- 
jnred.  The  cub,  two-thirds  the  size  of  its  dam,  seeing  her 
fall,  turned  and  fled,  leaving  the  way  open  for  the  attack  of 
the  sire,  a  grand  old  fellow  who  sounded  instantly  to  the 
charge,  and  came  crashing  through  the  thicket  upon  us.  It 
was  a  moment  for  action.  Wv  opened  upon  him  with  a  ter- 
rible bombardment  from  our  Henry  rifles.  In  less  time  than 
a  minute  we  had  fired  thirty-one  balls  into  him.  In  his  en- 
deavors to  reach  us,  and  in  his  rage  and  agony,  he  executed 
some  tremendous  feats  of  ground  and  lofty  tumbling.  The 
woods  echoed  to  his  howlings,  and  in  a  frantic  manner  he 
tore  up  the  earth  and  broke  down  the  saplings  for  a  consid- 
erable space  around.  The  chaparral  cracked  beneath  the 
strokes  of  his  paws,  and  large  pieces  of  rotten  logs  were  scat- 
tered  in   all    directions.      Ilis   pluck   sliould    have    won    him    a 


INTERESTING  ADVENTURE      505 

more  glorious  fate,  for  with  all  his  efforts  to  attack  us,  he 
died  M'itliout  inflicting  any  harm,  and  his  death  roar,  re- 
verberating tlirough  the  forest,  summoned  our  frightened  com- 
panions, who,  with  '  Forty-niner  '  in  the  van,  returned  in 
time  to  be  in  at  the  death.  '  Johnny,'  my  faithful  henchman, 
with  revolver  in  hand,  reserving  fire  for  a  last  contingency, 
Iiad  stood  near  while  the  fight  was  progressing.  He  now  came 
forward  and  warmly  congratulated  Humphrey  and  myself  on 
our  victory.  We  took  the  hind  quarters  of  our  prize  on  board, 
and  nailed  one  of  the  huge  paws  as  a  trophy,  to  the  top  of 
our  jack-staff,  and  floated  on. 

"  Toward  evening  we  descried  a  party  of  white  men  on  the 
right  bank,  hove  to,  and  went  ashore.  They  proved  to  be  a 
party  of  seven,  engaged  in  chopping  wood  for  steamboats. 
They  were  living  in  a  little  shanty,  and  intended  to  remain 
through  the  winter.  When  the  boats  came  up,  in  the  early 
spring,  they  expected  to  make  a  profitable  sale  of  their  wood, 
and  go  to  some  less  exposed  country.  During  the  winter  they 
designed  to  increase  their  wealth  by  hunting  and  trapping 
for  furs.  These  men  were  armed  with  Hawkins  rifles,  which, 
being  muzzle-loading,  were  greatly  inferior  to  the  breech- 
loading  cartridge  guns  then  in  use.  We  warned  them  of  their 
danger,  but  with  the  energy  and  enterprise  they  possessed 
also  the  courage  and  recklessness  of  all  pioneers.  They  said 
they  were  ready  to  take  the  chances.  Poor  fellows  !  The 
chances  were  too  strong  for  them,  for  only  a  few  days  after- 
wards a  body  of  Sioux  Indians  came  upon  them.  They  made 
a  desperate  defence,  but  were  overpowered  and  every  one  of 
them  massacred. 

"  The  eighth  day  of  our  voyage  was  mild  and  lovely.  We 
had  floated  seven  hundred  miles  without  accident.  Each 
day  had  been  crowded  with  events  of  interest,  and  our  adven- 
tures had  all  been  crowned  with  success.  These,  with  our 
resources  for  humor,  and  a  general  disposition  to  see  only 
the  ludicrous  side  of  passing  incidents,  made  us  cheerful  and 
good-humored  even  to  boisterousness.  Sometimes,  even  in  the 
midst  of  mirth,  the  thought  of  our  constant  exposure  to  In- 
dian attack  would  operate  as  an  unpleasant  restraint.     But 


50G   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

we  did  not  shirk  the  subject,  or  fail  for  a  moment  to  look  it 
steadily  in  the  face.  Most  of  our  company  knew  what  In- 
dian fighting  meant,  and  some  had  had  experience.  Three 
had  followed  under  the  banner  of  the  writer,  on  the  sunny 
slopes  of  the  distant  Pacific,  when  gallantry  and  honor  had 
called  for  volunteers  for  the  defence  of  firesides  against  sav- 
age forays.  In  early  times  upon  the  Middle  Yuba,  when  Bill 
Junes  the  packer  and  five  others  were  ruthlessly  murdered, 
it  was  '  Forty-niner  '  who  sounded  the  tocsin  of  war  and  led 
the  daylight  attack  down  the  winding  gorge  upon  a  Digger 
ranchero,  to  its  total  annihilation.  Our  uniform  experience 
had  been  that  where  civilized  jarred  with  savage  nature,  a 
conflict  was  inevitable,  and  the  pioneer  had  fought  his  own 
battles  unaided.  Government  had  done  little  for  his  protec- 
tion, and  less  for  the  savage. 

"  Occasionally  this  subject  would  obtrude  itself  upon  our 
thouglits,  and  we  would  discuss  it  in  its  personal  aspects,  al- 
ways resolving  to  be  on  our  guard  against  surprise  and  at- 
tack. But  the  prestige  of  successful  adventure  made  us  care- 
less, and  a  lat(>nt  sentiment  of  pride  and  confidence  in  our 
arms  pervaded  the  entire  ])arty.  We  had  been  for  several  days 
passing  through  the  country  of  the  hostile  Sioux,  and  knew 
if  we  should  fall  in  with  one  of  their  war  parties  an  attack 
would  surely  follow,  and  he  would  be  a  lucky  man  who  es- 
caped a  bloody  fate.  As  if,  by  a  presentiment  of  coming  evil, 
the  subject  on  this  day  became  more  than  usually  exciting. 
'  Forty-niner,'  who  rather  desired  a  brush  with  the  Indians, 
had  just  expressed  his  willingness  and  ability  to  eat  any  num- 
ber of  Sioux  for  breakfast,  should  they  attack  our  ])arty,  when 
our  boat  rounded  a  bend  in  the  river,  and  Hunijilirey,  the  first 
to  make  the  discovery,  exclaimed,  '  Well,  there  they  are.  You 
can  eat  them  for  dinner  if  you  choose.' 

"  It  was  high  noon.  Just  before  us  at  the  moutli  of  a  coulee 
on  the  south  bank  of  tlie  river,  was  a  large  party  of  Indians. 
A  hasty  glance  of  mutual  surprise  and  an  instant  seizure  of 
arms  by  both  parties,  defined,  stronger  than  language  could 
do,  the  terms  upon  which  we  were  to  meet.  Below  the  coulee, 
there   rose  to  tlic  luight   of   fifty   feet,  a  perpendicular  bluff 


INTERESTING  ADVENTURE      507 

around  whose  base  dashed  the  foaming  current.  A  low  open 
sand-bar  disputed  our  passage  on  the  opposite  side.  There 
was  no  alternative.  We  must  go  by  the  channel,  within 
range  of  their  guns,  or  not  at  all.  As  we  steered  to  a  point 
across  the  river,  the  Indians  withdrew  to  the  coulee,  one  alone 
remaining,  who  accompanied  his  friendly  salutation  of  '  How  ! 
How  !  '  with  gestures  indicating  a  desire  for  us  to  return  to 
that  side,  and  engage  in  trade  with  them.  A  moment  later 
and  our  boat  was  opposite  the  coulee,  within  which  we  could 
see  some  of  the  red  devils  stripping  off  their  blankets,  and 
others,  already  denuded,  approaching  the  verge  of  the  bluff, 
armed  with  bows  and  arrows  and  rifles.  It  was  evident  we 
had  come  up  with  a  large  party  of  Sioux  who  were  about  to 
attack  us,  and  we  must  make  the  best  of  the  situation.  De- 
spite our  labor  at  the  oars,  the  current  swept  us  down  in  di- 
rect range  of  the  spot  occupied  by  the  Indians,  who,  before 
we  had  finished  fastening  our  boat,  opened  fire  upon  us  with 
about  fifty  shots,  which  fortunately  whistled  over  our  heads. 
Before  they  could  correct  their  aim  for  another  fire,  we  were 
behind  a  breastwork  hastily  extemporized  by  throwing  up  our 
blankets  and  baggage  against  the  exposed  gunwale  of  the  boat. 
This  they  pierced  Avith  bullets  thick  as  hail,  but  the  protec- 
tion it  afforded  us  was  ample,  and  we  soon  got  ready  to  re- 
turn their  leaden  compliments.  Each  of  our  Henry  rifles 
contained  sixteen  cartridges  when  we  opened  fire,  and  the  dis- 
tance being  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  yards  to  the  bluff, 
which  was  literally  swarming  with  savages,  not  more  than 
ten  minutes  elapsed  until  every  one  of  them  had  disaj^peared. 
The  fearful  death  howl,  however,  assured  us  that  our  fire  had 
not  been  in  vain.  With  the  exception  of  an  occasional  head 
dodging  behind  the  trees,  not  an  Indian  could  be  seen,  yet 
from  the  coulee,  the  sage  brush,  and  low  slirubbery,  an  in- 
cessant firing  was  kept  up,  which  we  returned  as  often  as  an 
object  became  visible. 

"  The  effect  of  our  first  fire  satisfied  us  tliat  while  it  would 
be  death  to  all  on  board  to  attempt  to  run  the  channel,  we 
could  in  our  i)rescnt  position  keep  the  rascals  at  bay.  We 
could   stand   the   broiling   sun   of   an   August   afternoon   on   a 


508   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

heated  sand-bar  in  the  Missouri  better  than  the  hotter  fire 
of  our  savage  foes.  Early  in  the  action,  while  rising  to  nre 
from  the  breastwork,  a  bullet  struck  Humphrey  in  the  mouth, 
carrying  away  with  it  a  piece  of  the  jaw  and  three  teeth,  and 
severely  cutting  the  lips.  The  wound  disabled  him,  and  de- 
prived us  of  the  best  marksman  in  the  party.  A  little  later 
'  Forty-niner  '  was  struck  by  an  arrow  in  the  fleshy  part  of 
the  thigh.  I  pulled  out  the  shaft,  and  bound  up  the  wound. 
Five  minutes  after,  an  arrow  pierced  the  calf  of  his  leg,  in- 
flicting a  painful  wound.  These  arrows  came  from  a  squad 
which  was  protected  from  our  bullets  by  a  depression  in  the 
bluff,  oblique  to  us.  So  great  was  their  skill  with  the  bow, 
that  while  the  main  j)arty  in  front  could  not  harm  us  with 
bullets,  they,  by  bending  their  arrows,  caused  them  to  describe 
a  curve  which  would  strike  their  sharp  points  into  the  legs 
of  our  boots  with  unerring  j)reeision. 

"  The  })ride  of  '  Forty-niner  '  was  now  fully  aroused.  Twice 
wounded,  he  became  enraged,  desperate,  and  unsheathing  his 
bowie-knife,  he  rose  to  his  feet,  and  brandished  it  in  the  rays 
of  the  sun,  launching  a  terrible  imprecation  upon  the  liver, 
hearts,  and  scalps  of  the  savages.  '  Come  on,'  he  shouted, 
'  you  infernal  sons  of  Belial  !  Alone  and  single-handed,  I 
will  meet  any  five  of  the  best  of  you  in  open  fight  !  ' 

"  The  bullets  whistled  around  him  from  an  invisible  foe, 
but  to  no  purpose.  Seizing  him  by  the  left  arm  I  pulled  him 
down,  and  warned  him  of  the  danger  of  this  personal  expo- 
sure; but  not  until  he  had  exhausted  his  vocabulary  of  male- 
dictions, would  he  yield  to  my  entreaties  and  resume  his  place 
behind  the  breastwork.  Deprecating  his  recklessness,  I  could 
not  but  admire  his  courage.  But  as  this  was  no  time  for 
sentiment,  I  was  only  too  happy,  when,  of  his  own  accord, 
he  stretched  himself  beside  me,  and  I  heard  the  bullets 
whistling  harmlessly  over  us.  Just  at  this  moment  I  looked 
behind  me  and  caught  a  glance  of  my  little  friend  Johnny. 
With  nothing  but  a  pistol  to  engage  in  the  conflict,  he  had 
taken  no  active  part  in  it,  but,  with  the  pistol  beside  him. 
he  was  administering  every  possible  relief  to  poor  wounded 
Humphrey.  His  coolness  was  remarkable,  and  inspired  us 
all  with  iiope. 


INTERESTING  ADVENTURE      509 

"  The  Indians  kept  up  a  brisk  fire  from  various  places  of 
concealment  until  after  sundown.  We  only  responded  when 
our  shots  would  tell,  and  finally  ceased  to  fire  at  all.  Our 
enemies,  thinking  we  were  all  slain,  sent  a  party  to  take  our 
scalps  and  plunder.  We  lay  still,  behind  our  breastwork,  so 
as  not  to  undeceive  them.  Twenty-seven  of  their  best  war- 
riors, led  by  Ta-Skun-ka-Du-tah  (the  'Red  Dog'),  swam 
the  river  half  a  mile  above,  and  marched  down  directly  in  rear 
of  us.  There,  at  a  distance  of  about  three  hundred  yards, 
they  sat  down  in  a  ring,  within  easy  range  of  our  rifles.  Sit- 
ting Bull,  their  head  chief,  meantime  made  medicine  on  the 
south  bank  for  their  success,  wliile  they,  believing  that  we 
were  fully  in  their  power,  commenced  smoking  and  making 
medicine  with  the  intention  of  destroying  us  at  leisure.  (The 
names  of  the  chiefs  engaged  in  this  attack  were  learned  by 
the  writer  several  years  after  its  occurrence  when  he  was  em- 
ployed as  a  government  agent  for  the  Teton  Sioux,  of  which 
tribe  Sitting  Bull  was  head  chief.) 

"  The  '  Red  Dog '  was  a  big  medicine  man.  Having  filled 
and  lighted  the  magic  pipe,  he  first  touched  the  heel  of  it  to 
the  ground,  then  raised  and  pointed  the  stem  to  the  sun,  drew 
a  few  solemn  whiffs,  forcing  the  smoke  through  his  nostrils, 
and  passed  the  pipe  to  his  neighbor  on  the  right,  by  whom  it 
was  passed  on,  until  the  ceremony  was  performed  by  every 
man  in  the  circle,  and  the  pipe  returned  from  right  to  left 
without  ceremony  to  the  hands  of  the  medicine  man.  He  re- 
filled it,  and  it  was  circulated  again  from  left  to  right. 
Painted  sticks  with  colored  sacks  of  medicine  attached  were 
then  stuck  in  the  ground  in  the  centre  of  the  enchanted  cir- 
cle, and  the  whole  companj^  arose,  broke  into  a  guttural 
graveyard  chant,  and  commenced  the  war-dance  around  the 
medicine,  the  chief  meantime  waving  over  it  his  coo-stick. 
This  over,  the  medicine  with  great  solemnity  was  given  to 
the  sun. 

"  During  the  half-hour  thus  occupied  by  the  Indians,  we 
were  engaged  also  in  making  medicine,  and  we  made  it  strong. 
Our  ten  large  Colt's  revolvers  were  carefully  loaded,  our 
Henry  rifles  cleaned,  and  their  magazines  filled  with  car- 
tridges.    We  were  impatiently  awaiting  the  assault  when  it 


510   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

came.  Naked,  hideously  striped  with  red  and  black  paint, 
dancing,  contorting  their  bodies,  showering  arrows  thick  and 
fast  into  and  around  the  boat,  blowing  war  whistles  made  of 
the  bones  of  eagles'  wings,  whooping  and  yelling,  they  rushed 
to  the  onset  as  if  all  the  devils  of  pandemonium  had  been  sud- 
denly let  loose.  For  their  arrows  and  bullets  we  were  pre- 
pared, but  this  terrific  vocal  accompaniment  for  the  moment 
scattered  our  courage  to  the  winds.  We  could  well  understand 
how  the  stoutest  hearts  would  (juail  in  presence  of  such  an 
infernal  demonstration.  Our  hair  rose  up  like  quills,  and  we 
could  feel  our  hearts  sink  within  us  as  the  noise  and  din  in- 
creased,  filling  the  forest  with   horrible  reverberations. 

"  Our  little  boat,  breasting  tlie  sluggish  current,  floated  at 
a  distance  of  twenty  feet  from  the  shore,  to  which  she  was 
fastened  by  a  strong  painter.  The  red-skins,  still  shouting 
and  firing,  evidently  anticipating  an  easy  victory,  rushed 
madly  onward  to  the  water's  edge,  when  at  a  word,  we  all 
rose  up  and  opened  a  deadly  and  incessant  fire  upon  them  with 
our  rifles.  Our  hopes  were  more  than  realized  in  seeing  several 
fall,  and  the  others  beat  a  hasty  retreat  to  the  cottonwoods. 
It  was  now  our  turn  to  shout,  and  we  made  the  welkin  ring 
with  cheers  of  victory  as  we  juni})e(l  from  the  boat  and  waded 
ra{)idly  to  the  shore,  and  pursued  the  flying  demons  to  their 
log  covert  in  a  coppice  of  willows.  '  Forty-niner,'  reminded 
that  liis  banqueting  hour  had  arrived,  forgetful  of  his  wounds, 
rushed  imjn-tuously  to  the  charge,  brandishing  his  inevitable 
bowie-knife  with  one  hand,  his  unerring  pistol  firmly  clasped 
in  the  other,  and  his  powerful  voice  raised  to  the  highest 
pitch  of  angry  utterance. 

"  '  Scatter,  you  infernal  demons!  '  he  cried.  '  scatter,  for  not 
a  devil  of  you  shall  eesape  us.' 

"  Too  true,  alas!  for  Ta-Skun-ka-Du-tah,  were  these  words 
of  doom.  The  medicine  which  he  deemed  invincible,  failed  to 
pr()l«el  him  from  the  deadly  aim  of  '  rorty-niner,'  a  bullet 
from  wliose  pistol  passed  through  his  heart.  With  a  convul- 
sive lea])  into  the  air,  and  an  agonizing  death  yell,  he  fell 
prone  to  the  earth,  grasping  the  coo-stiek  and  medicine  which 
Ii.id  lured  him  to  his  fate.     Six  lifeless  bodies  of  his  followers 


INTERESTING  ADVENTURE      511 

lay  around,  and  how  many  were  killed  or  wounded  on  the 
opposite  bank  in  the  early  part  of  the  contest,  we  had  no 
means  of  ascertaining.  '  Forty-niner  '  made  medicine  over  the 
fallen  chief,  and  removed  his  scalp  in  a  manner  which  even 
he  would  have  approved.  Littly  Johnny  displayed  great 
courage  in  tlie  fight,  and  was  always  near  me  in  the  thickest 
of  it,  seemingly  ready  to  avenge  any  harm  that  might  befall 
his  benefactor. 

"  The  twilight  was  fading  into  darkness,  when  the  Indians 
on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river  fired  upon  us  for  the  last 
time.  Assembling  upon  the  bank  in  a  group  a  few  hundred 
yards  above  us,  they  were  speedily  rejoined  by  the  survivors 
of  the  attacking  party,  who,  as  we  learned  from  their  melan- 
choly death  howl,  had  communicated  to  them  the  disasters  of 
the  battle.  The  wailing  notes,  attuned  to  a  dismal  cadence, 
ringing  in  echoes  through  the  forest,  harmonized  gloomily  with 
the  joy  and  thankfulness  which  our  escape  had  inspired.  We 
had  no  sorrow  to  squander  upon  the  savages  in  their  distress, 
but  there  was  something  so  heartfelt  in  the  expression  of 
their  grief,  that  it  filled  us  all  with  sadness.  And  there  was 
no  heart  in  the  loud  and  repeated  cheers  and  firing  of  rifles 
with  which  we  deemed  it  necessary  to  respond,  lest  they  should 
return  and  seek  to  avenge  the  death  of  their  fallen  comrades. 
It  was  simply  an  act  of  self-defence;  for  had  the  Indians 
known  our  fear  of  future  and  immediate  attack,  and  the 
anxious  plans  we  made  for  prompt  departure,  our  doom  would 
have  been  certain. 

"  When  the  last  faint  note  of  the  retreating  Sioux  assured 
us  of  freedom  from  immediate  danger,  we  took  careful  note 
of  our  injuries,  and  made  preparations  to  resume  our  voyage. 
Five  of  our  company  had  been  wounded,  none  fatally,  but  all 
needed  attention  and  service  which  we  could  not  bestow.  Our 
boat  and  baggage  had  been  pierced  by  hundreds  of  bullets. 
A  companion,  who  was  disqualified  by  the  recent  amputation 
of  his  leg  from  service  during  the  fight,  had  received  a  wound 
in  the  back  that  would  have  proved  fatal  but  for  the  interpo- 
sition of  his  wooden  leg,  which  happened  to  be  in  range.  An- 
other had  an  arrow  point  in  his  shoulder,  and  still  another 


512   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

one  in  the  hip.  Then  there  were  Humphrey  and  '  Forty- 
niner,'  so  badly  wounded  as  to  be  incapable  of  service.  Be- 
fore daylight  a  thousand  Indians,  thirsting  for  revenge,  might 
assemble  at  some  point  below  us,  intent  upon  our  destruction. 
There  was  no  alternative ;  —  we  must  leave  with  all  possible 
speed,  and  reach  Fort  Buford,  about  one  hundred  and  thirty 
miles  distant,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Yellowstone,  without  de- 
tention of  any  sort.  Those  of  us  who  were  uninjured  by  the 
fight,  set  about  repairing  the  boat.  An  hour  before  midnight 
we  dropped  into  the  current,  and  under  cover  of  intense  dark- 
ness were  borne  rapidly  down  the  turbid  river.  Jostled  by 
frequent  snags,  arrested  by  sand-bars  and  by  various  colli- 
sions, kept  in  constant  fear  of  wreck,  we  contrived  to  hold 
our  course  until  daylight.  Through  the  succeeding  day  our 
field-glass  was  in  constant  use,  but  as  no  Indians  were  visible, 
we  ventured,  while  passing  a  bottom,  to  fire  into  a  large  herd 
of  antelopes.  Two  were  killed.  We  disembarked,  threw  out 
pickets,  and  prepared  a  hasty  meal,  and  sailed  onward.  Un- 
til its  close,  the  remainder  of  the  day  was  without  incident; 
but  just  at  dark,  our  boat  ran  hard  aground  upon  a  sand-bar, 
and  obliged  us  to  remain  there  during  the  night.  This  was 
not  without  risk,  for  if  the  Indians  had  come  upon  us  we 
would  have  been  an  easy  prey.  Our  ever-faithful  Johnny, 
who  had  shjit  during  the  day,  volunteered  as  guard,  and 
wraj)ped  in  his  blanket,  he  sat  down  on  the  deck,  his  clear 
eye  peering  into  the  darkness,  and  his  keen  ears  detecting  the 
slightest  unusual  noise.  Several  times  he  mistook  the  whistle 
of  an  elk,  and  howl  of  the  wolf,  for  the  Indian,  but  no  In- 
dian came,  and  we  were  aroused  at  daylight  by  our  trusty 
sentinel  with  tlie  welcome  announcement  that  a  large  human 
habitation  was  visible.  We  sprung  to  our  feet,  and  beheld, 
at  a  distance  of  three  miles  ahead,  the  stockade  and  bastions 
of  Fort  Union.  I-'ears  for  our  safety  and  for  the  poor  fel- 
lows whose  wounds  produced  the  most  intense  physical  suf- 
fering, were  instantly  relieved ;  and  every  able-bodied  man  in 
the  party  put  forth  Iiis  best  exertions  witli  hearty  good  will 
to  remove  the  boat  from  the  sand-bar.  This  accomplished, 
wc  soon  effected  a  landing  at  the  fort,  but  finding  no  surgeon 


INTERESTING  ADVENTURE      513 

there,  crossed  the  point  with  our  wounded,  a  distance  of  two 
miles,  to  Fort  Buford,  then  in  process  of  construction  at 
the  mouth  of  the  Yellowstone.  Here  we  found  a  Company 
of  the  Thirteenth  United  States  Infantry,  under  command  of 
Col.  W.  G.  Rankin,  quartered  in  tents  until  the  completion 
of  the  post.  More  than  half  the  time  their  attention  was  di- 
verted from  work  upon  the  fort  by  attacks  of  Sioux,  large 
bands  of  whom  were  prowling  through  this  region.  The  col- 
onel received  us  very  kindly,  placed  a  large  tent  at  our  dis- 
posal, furnished  us  with  commissary  stores,  and  consigned  our 
wounded  to  the  skilful  treatment  of  the  surgeon. 

"  We  had  been  two  weeks  at  Fort  Buford,  when  the 
steamer  Luella  arrived  with  three  hundred  passengers.  Our 
taste  for  adventure  having  lost  its  flavor,  we  reluctantly  bade 
the  kind  colonel  and  his  Company  good-bye,  and  took  passage 
on  her  for  Sioux  City.  The  run  down,  unmarked  by  any  un- 
usual incident,  and  after  frequent  detentions  upon  sand-bars, 
was  accomplished  to  the  head  of  the  great  bend  above  the 
town  in  fourteen  days.  One  of  our  party  crossed  the  bend, 
which  is  but  a  few  miles  in  width,  to  the  city,  to  provide 
means  upon  our  arrival  for  the  conveyance  of  the  company 
to  the  Northwestern  Railroad,  not  then  completed  to  the  Mis- 
souri. I  had  just  finished  a  game  of  whist,  when  my  com- 
rade Johnny,  who  was  seated  beside  me,  drew  me  aside  and 
inquired  if  I  intended  to  leave  the  boat  at  Sioux  City.  On 
receiving,  with  an  affirmative  reply,  an  urgent  request  to  ac- 
company me  to  Chicago,  he  broke  into  tears  and  expressed 
great  regret  that  we  must  part  so  soon,  as  by  remaining  on 
the  boat  he  could  reach  his  friends  and  home  much  sooner 
than  by  any  other  route. 

"  '  Come  with  me  on  the  deck,'  he  continued,  putting  his 
arm  in  mine.  '  I  have  something  to  tell  you  in  confidence, 
which  will  greatly  surprise  you.' 

"  I  had  often  had  occasion  during  our  trip  to  think  that 
Johnny  would  unfold  the  mystery  which  enveloped  him,  be- 
fore we  separated,  and  I  readily  accompanied  him  to  the  place 
indicated.  With  much  nervous  embarrassment,  he  then  said 
to  me, 


514   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

"  '  I  am  indebted  to  you  more  deeply  than  you  can  even 
imagine.  You  liave  been  a  kind  friend  and  benefactor,  and 
now  that  the  time  has  come  for  us  to  part,  I  should  be  more 
than  criminal  did  I  not  reveal  myself  to  you  in  my  true  char- 
acter. The  disguise  is  no  longer  necessary  for  my  protection. 
I  am  a  woman.' 

Involuntarily  I  exclaimed,  'Great  Heaven!  is  it  possible  I 
—  and  I,  all  this  while,  so  stupid  as  not  to  see  it  in  your  con- 
duct! This  accounts  for  everything  I  thought  so  strangely 
reticent,  so  singularly  delicate  and  refined  in  your  manners.' 

"  '  Let  me  go  on,'  said  she,  interrupting  this  rhapsody. 
'  Our  relation  to  each  otlier,  so  changed,  must  not  affect  the 
deep  sense  of  obligation  your  kindness  has  imposed ;  and  be- 
sides, my  history,  with  all  its  sad  vicissitudes,  will  afford  am- 
ple apology  for  the  deceit  of  which  this  confession  convicts 
me.  When  I  came  to  you  and  begged  for  the  passage  you  so 
generously  granted,  I  was  a  jxMir  heart-broken  woman,  but 
now  with  the  multiplied  evidences  I  have  of  a  protecting 
Providence,  I  am  comparatively  happy.  Listen  to  my  story. 
Just  before  the  great  rebellion  I  was  married  to  one  I  dearly 
loved.  Our  home  was  in  Tennessee.  I  was  nineteen,  and  my 
husband,  whom  I  will  call  Mr.  Gordon,  a  few  years  older. 
Early  in  the  Summer  of  1861  he  espoused  the  Union  cause, 
which  brought  him  in  great  disfavor  with  his  relatives  and 
neighbors.  Their  frequent  ])ersecutions  drove  us  from  the 
country.  We  sought  a  new  home  in  California.  There  he  en- 
gaged in  extensive  mining  enterprises,  all  of  which  terminated 
in  failure.  He  became  utterly  discouraged,  and  realized  in  the 
current  idiom  of  the  country  the  condition  of  one  wlio  had  "  lost 
his  gri))."  I  urged  him  to  return  to  tlie  States,  but  our  means 
were  nearly  exhausted.  With  the  hope  of  replenishing  them, 
as  a  last  resort  he  staked  and  lost  everything  at  a  gambling 
table.  To  my  constant  entreaties  for  reformation,  he  prom- 
ised well,  until  inteinjierance  seized  him  in  its  deadly  coil. 
Naturally  high-spirited  and  honorable,  misfortune  and  dissi- 
pation soon  reduced  him  to  a  wreck. 

In  the  Spring  of  18«»6  we  were  living  in  a  mining  camp 
at  the  Middle  mines,  on  the  western  slope  of  the  Sierras.    One 


INTERESTING  ADVENTURE      515 

night  (I  shall  never  forgot  it)  my  unfortunate  husband,  while 
intoxicated,  becauii-  embroiled  in  a  desperate  quarrel  at  a 
game  of  faro,  Mith  a  player  of  nmch  local  popularity.  A 
fearful  fight  followed,  in  which  he  killed  his  antagonist.  He 
was  followed  into  the  street  and  his  arrest  attempted  by  a 
sheriff's  officer.  He  fled  in  the  direction  of  his  home,  was 
fired  upon  and  seriously  wounded,  and  in  three  shots  fired 
by  him  in  return,  he  killed  one  of  the  arresting  party.  The 
others  fled.  The  crowd,  attracted  by  the  firing,  pursued  him 
so  hotly  that  he  ran  to  the  hills  and  secreted  himself  in  the 
forest. 

During  the  succeeding  six  days  of  bitter  anguish  I 
was  in  a  state  of  terrible  suspense.  Late  one  night  relief  was 
brought  by  a  messenger  from  my  husband,  who  said  he  was 
lying  at  a  miner's  cabin  in  the  mountains,  fifteen  miles  dis- 
tant, seriously  wounded,  and  required  medicine  and  attend- 
ance. I  instantly  determined  to  go  to  him.  The  man,  an  old 
friend  of  my  husband,  discouraged  me,  lest  I  should  be  fol- 
lowed by  the  officers,  and  the  hiding-place  discovered.  This 
objection  I  overcame  by  donning  male  attire,  and  following 
his  guidance  astride  a  mule.  I  reached  the  bedside  of  my 
wretched  husband  without  exciting  suspicion,  and  after  sev- 
eral weeks  of  careful  nursing,  his  condition  was  so  improved 
that  he  could  commence  a  journey  to  the  States.  Fear  of 
discovery  prevented  longer  delay,  and  our  friend  providing 
us  with  means  of  conveyance,  we  started  on  our  weary  route. 
"  '  You  may  readily  conceive  that  the  task  was  dishearten- 
ing, for  to  escape  detection  it  was  necessary  to  avoid  all 
travelled  routes,  and  literally  pick  our  way  through  moun- 
tains, valleys,  defiles,  and  caiions,  fording  rivers  where  we 
could  find  opportunity,  and  obtaining  food  from  ranches  and 
at  points  remote  from  the  large  settlements.  My  husband's 
condition  required  constant  attention,  and  on  me  alone  de- 
volved all  the  labor  and  care  of  the  journey.  No  one,  to  see 
my  embrowned  face  and  knotty  hands,  would  have  ever 
dreamed  that  I  was  aught  else  than  the  tough  wiry  boy  I  ap- 
peared, or  that  I  concealed  beneath  my  disguise  a  heart  torn 
with  anguish  and  shaken  by  continual  fear. 


516  VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

"  '  We  selected,  as  least  liable  to  interruption,  a  route 
througli  Northern  California,  Oregon.  Washington,  and  Idaho, 
intending,  after  our  arrival  in  Montana,  to  find  some  easier 
mode  of  completing  our  journey.  Five  long  weary  months 
during  which  travel  was  about  equally  alternated  with  delay, 
found  us  encamped  on  the  Columbia  plains  in  Washington 
Territory  near  the  western  border  of  M«>ntana.  Oh!  it  had 
been  a  terrible  perambulation.  And  now,  when  beyond  the 
pursuit  of  sheriflFs,  and  near  the  close  as  we  supposed  of  our 
journey,  my  poor  husband,  weakened  by  the  internal  hemor- 
rhage from  his  wound,  was  j)rostrated  by  an  attack  which 
in  a  few  days  terminated  his  life. 

"  'I  was  alone  in  the  wilderness,  several  hundred  miles 
from  the  nearest  settlement.  For  two  days  and  nights  I 
lingered  in  that  lonely  camp  beside  the  dead  body  of  my 
husband,  without  a  sound  to  break  the  fearful  stillness, 
save  the  yelping  of  coyotes,  and  the  midnight  howl  of  the 
wolf.  On  the  third  day  I  heard  the  welcome  sound  of  an 
approaching  pack-train.  The  men  having  it  in  charge  dug 
a  grave  and  gave  my  husband  decent  burial.  I  accompanied 
their  train  to  Helena,  jjreserving  my  male  incognito  without 
suspicion.  After  a  brief  period  of  rest  and  refreshment,  I 
disposed  of  my  effects  and  went  by  coach  to  Benton,  where 
I  was  so  fortunate  as  to  fall  in  with  your  party.  You  know 
the  rest.' 

"  The  recital  of  this  eventful  narrative  made  a  profound 
impression  upon  me.  I  could  scarcely  realize  that  it  had 
fallen  from  the  lijis  of  the  mild-mannered,  resolute,  active 
little  Johnny,  who  had  been  to  us  all  such  a  pleasant  but 
enigmatical  companion.  My  sympathies  were  all  •warmly 
enlisted  in  favor  of  the  brave  woman,  but  she  refused  all 
further  profTers  of  assistance,  assuring  me  that  she  was  j)ro- 
vided  witli  ample  means  for  the  completion  of  her  journey, 
and  had  many  able  and  willing  friends  who  would  greet  her 
return  to  them  with  joy.  I  took  leave  of  her  at  Sioux  City 
the  next  day  with  real  regret,  and  often  since  have  recalled 
to  mind  the  thrilling  history  of  her  experience  in  the 
mountains." 


CHAPTER   L 
THE  STAGE  COACH 

THE  stage  coach  is  one  among  the  most  vivid  memo- 
ries of  the  boy  of  half  a  century  ago.  The  very 
mention  of  it  recalls  the  huge  oval  vehicle  with  its  great 
boot  behind,  fronted  by  a  lofty  driver's  seat, —  swaying, 
tossing,  rocking,  lumbering  and  creaking  as  it  dashes 
along,  impelled  by  four  swift-footed  horses,  through  mud 
and  mire,  over  hill  and  dale,  in  the  daily  discharge  of  its 
appointed  office.  Anon  the  rapid  toot  of  the  horn,  clos- 
ing with  a  long  refrain,  which  reverberates  from  every 
hillside,  winding  a  different  note  to  the  varied  motions  of 
the  coach,  and  a  rattle  of  the  wheels  announces  the  arrival, 
and  every  urchin  in  the  village  is  on  the  alert  to  see  its 
passage  to  the  hotel,  and  from  the  hotel  to  the  post-office. 
It  was  the  daily  event  in  the  memory  of  childhood,  which 
no  time  can  obliterate.  As  years  wore  on  and  improve- 
ments came,  and  one  by  one  the  old-time  inventions  gave 
place  to  others,  the  coach  began  gradually  to  disappear 
from  the  haunts  of  busy  life,  and  the  swift-winged  rail-car 
to  usurp  its  customary  duties.  Seemingly  it  shrunk  away 
as  if  frightened  at  the  improvements  multiplying  around 
it,  and  sought  a  freer  life  in  the  vast  solitudes  of  the  Great 
West.  There  it  had  full  range  without  a  rival  for  thou- 
sands of  miles  for  a  third  of  a  century,  and  conveyed  the 
van  of  that  grand  army  of  pioneers  across  the  continent, 
who  sought  and  found  home  and  wealth  and  opened  up  a 
new  and  richer  world  than  any  ever  before  discovered  on 
the  golden  shores  of  the  great  Pacific 

517 


518   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

The  system  of  overland  travel,  which  afforded  a  com- 
paratively rapid  transit  for  passengers  and  mails  be- 
tween the  oceans,  made  the  stage  coach  an  object  of 
peculiar  interest  to  the  civilized  communities  of  both  conti- 
nents. It  was  the  bearer  of  the  earliest  news  from  the  gold 
fields,  the  most  assured  means  of  communication  between 
those  families  and  friends  whom  the  lust  for  fortune  had 
separated,  and  the  most  available  conveyance  to  the  land 
of  gold.  The  novelty  of  a  trip  across  the  plains,  over  the 
mountains,  and  through  the  canons,  its  exposures  to  In- 
dian attack  and  massacre,  its  thrilling  escapades  and  ad- 
ventures, can  only  be  known  to  him  who  has  accom- 
plished it. 

Before  the  construction  of  tlie  Union  Pacific  Railway, 
mails  and  passengers  were  transported  from  the  States  to 
Montana  by  Holliday's  Overland  Stage  Line,  running 
from  Atchison,  Kansas,  by  way  of  Denver  and  Salt  Lake 
City,  and  connecting  at  the  latter  place  with  a  stage  line 
owned  by  other  proprietors,  running  to  Virginia  City  and 
Helena,  a  total  distance  of  nineteen  hundred  miles.  The 
route,  for  nearly  its  entire  distance,  lay  through  a  coun- 
try occupied  by  various  Indian  tribes,  several  of  which 
were  permanently  hostile,  and  the  others  ready  to  become 
so  as  occasion  offered,  to  satisf>'  their  greed  for  plunder 
or  robbery.  The  only  habitations  of  whites,  except  at  the 
places  mentioned  and  two  or  three  smaller  settlements, 
were  the  log  cabins  of  the  stock-tenders.  The  regular 
time  for  a  journey  from  Atchison  to  Helena  was  twenty- 
two  days.  Once  started,  the  only  stoppages  were  at  the 
changing  stations  twelve  to  fifteen  miles  apart, —  the  eat- 
ing stations  being  separated  by  a  distance  of  forty  or  fifty 
miles. 

In  the  Fall  of  1804,  I  made  this  journey  in  company 
with  Sanniel  T.  Hauser, —  the  time  occupied  being  thirty- 
one  days  and  nights  of  continuous  travel.     Our  journey 


THE  STAGE  COACH  519 

was  prolonged  by  delays  occasioned  by  the  incursions  of 
llie  hostile  Sioux,  who  had  killed  several  stock-tenders  at 
dift'erent  stations,  burned  the  buildings,  and  stolen  the 
horses.  From  their  frequent  attacks  upon  the  coaches 
from  ambush,  it  was  necessary  for  us  to  be  on  the  con- 
stant lookout,  with  arms  prepared  to  resist  them  at  any 
moment.  This  cautiousness  was  intensified  by  the  evi- 
dence of  their  murderous  purpose  we  met  with  in  our 
progress.  On  the  second  day  after  leaving  Atchison,  the 
eastern  bound  coach  met  us  with  one  wounded  passenger, 
the  next  day  with  one  dead,  and  the  next  with  another 
wounded.  The  reports  of  passengers  eastward  bound 
were  also  very  discouraging.  Yet  this  risk  of  life  did  not 
lessen  travel.     The  coaches  were  generally  full. 

As  a  curious  fact  in  stage-coach  statistics,  I  may  be 
pardoned  for  stating  that  in  fourteen  years,  while  Na- 
tional Bank  Examiner  for  all  the  Territories  and  the  Pa- 
cific States,  and  four  years,  while  Collector  of  Internal 
Revenue,  my  staging  to  and  fro  over  the  continent  ex- 
ceeded seventy-four  thousand  miles.  I  learned  in  that 
experience  that  the  most  comfortable  as  well  as  most 
eligible  place  for  travelling  was  the  outside  seat  beside 
the  driver;  and  as  it  was  seldom  in  demand  by  others  for 
travel  by  night,  I  usually  had  no  difficulty  in  securing  it. 
For  one  whose  stage  travel  is  pretty  constant,  no  dress 
is  more  suitable  than  the  one  usually  worn  by  express 
messengers,  which  consists  of  warm  overalls  and  fur  coat 
for  ordinary  winter  weather,  and  a  rubber  suit  for  pro- 
tection against  storms.  The  only  objection  to  them, 
and  that  sometimes  and  in  some  portions  of  the  country 
a  serious  one,  is  the  liability  of  the  wearer  to  be  mistaken 
for  a  guard.  The  road  agent  considers  the  guard  with 
treasure  in  his  keeping  as  legitimate  prey,  and  shoots 
him  without  the  least  compunction  if  he  evinces  any  deter- 
mined  resistance.     It  was  my  good   fortune  for  several 


520  VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

years  to  travel  unmolested  over  routes  which  but  the  day 
before  or  after  were  the  scenes  of  both  murder  and  rob- 
bery. 

The  ill-starred  canon  of  the  Port-Xeuf  River,  memora- 
ble in  all  its  early  and  recent  history,  for  murder,  robbery, 
and  disaster,  is  about  fort}'  miles  distant  from  Fort  Hall, 
Idaho.  It  was  named  after  an  unfortunate  Canadian 
trapper,  murdered  there  by  the  Indians,  and  ever  since 
that  event  a  curse  seems  to  have  rested  upon  it.  Captain 
Bonneville  established  his  camp  there  for  the  Winter  of 
ISSS-S-i,  and  during  his  absence  with  a  few  men,  those  who 
remained,  reduced  by  cold  and  hunger,  were  obliged  to 
leave  for  a  more  promising  location.  He  found  them  on 
his  return  in  the  Spring,  encamped  on  the  Blackfoot,  a 
tributary  of  Snake  River,  not  very  far  above  Port-Xeuf 
Canon.  Not  only  had  they  been  pinched  by  famine,  but 
they  had  fallen  in  with  several  Blackfoot  bands,  and  con- 
sidered themselves  fortunate  in  being  able  to  retreat  from 
the  dangerous  neighborhood  without  sustaining  any  loss. 

Ever  since  the  stage  road  from  Salt  Lake  City  to 
Montana  was  laid  out  through  this  canon,  it  has  been  the 
favorite  haunt  of  stage  robbers  and  highwaymen.  Na- 
ture seems  to  have  endowed  it  with  extraordinary  facili- 
ties for  encouraging  and  protecting  this  dangerous  class 
of  the  community.  Both  sides  of  the  river  wash  the  base 
of  basaltic  walls,  which,  by  the  combined  action  of  fire, 
water,  and  wind,  have  been  eroded  into  numerous  columns, 
resembling  in  formation  those  of  StaflFa,  and  forming 
coverts  and  gateways  alike  favorable  to  the  commis- 
sion of  robbery  or  murder,  and  the  escape  of  the  crimi- 
nals. Indeed,  it  has  been  with  many  a  connnonly  received 
opinion,  that  these  gateways  of  rock  gave  the  name  to  the 
canon,  the  word  Port-Xeuf  in  compound  form  signifying 
"  ninth  gate.'*  Notwithstanding  its  terrible  history,  the 
drive  through   it   upon  a  summer  day  is  very  delightful. 


THE  STAGE  COACH  521 

In  the  most  romantic  portion  of  it,  marked  by  an  immense 
pile  of  crumbled  basalt  and  favored  by  an  almost  impene- 
trable thicket  of  willows,  is  the  scene  of  one  of  the  most 
horrible  tragedies  that  ever  occurred  in  the  murderous  his- 
tory of  this  robbers'  den. 

Robbery  and  murder  in  the  early  history  of  the  gold 
seekers  in  Montana  and  Idaho  were  carried  on  upon 
strictly  business  principles.  No  attack  upon  a  coach  or  a 
returning  emigrant  train  was  made  without  almost  cer- 
tain knowledge  of  the  booty  to  be  obtained.  Some  of  the 
band  of  robbers  were  at  the  different  mining  localities,  on 
the  lookout  for  victims ;  and  between  them  and  the  attack- 
ing party  a  system  of  telegraphy  existed  by  which  was 
communicated  all  possible  information  concerning  every 
departure  of  the  coach  with  a  treasure-box,  or  passengers 
with  gold  dust. 

In  the  Summer  of  1865,  Messrs.  Parker  and  McCaus- 
land,  who  represented  the  interests  of  two  successful  mer- 
chants of  Virginia  City,  and  Messrs.  Mers  and  Dinan, 
merchants  of  Nevada  City,  left  Montana  for  St.  Joseph, 
Missouri,  with  about  sixty  thousand  dollars  in  gold  dust 
in  tlieir  possession.  For  a  week  or  more  before  leaving,  as 
was  the  custom  in  those  days,  they  had  sought  by  various 
devices  to  mislead  any  local  operatives  of  the  robber  gang 
who  might  be  watching  them,  as  to  the  exact  time  of  their 
departure,  so  that  when  they  took  leave  of  Virginia  City 
they  were  very  confident  they  had  stolen  a  march  upon 
them,  and  would  pass  the  ordeal  of  a  coach  ride  to  Salt 
Lake  City  in  safety.  Port-Neuf  Canon  was  regarded  as 
the  dangerous  spot.  Once  through  that,  they  were  com- 
paratively safe.  Their  treasure,  safely  packed  in  buck- 
skin bags,  was  in  part  concealed  upon  their  persons,  and 
the  remainder  locked  up  in  a  carpet-sack,  carefully  stowed 
away  under  the  back  seat  which  they  occupied.  Before 
their  arrival  at  Snake  River  bridge,  two  more  passengers, 


522   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

Brown  and  Carpenter,  were  added  to  tiic  number.  Leav- 
ing there  in  liigli  spirits,  they  proceeded  at  u  brisk  pace 
down  the  road,  entering  the  canon  at  an  earlj  hour  in  the 
afternoon.  It  was  a  pleasant  sunshiny  day.  Happy  in 
the  behef  that  before  its  close  they  would  leave  the  dreaded 
place  behind  them,  and  that  no  attack  would  be  made  in 
daylight,  the  members  of  the  company  were  engaged  in 
one  of  those  rambling  discursive  conversations  which  be- 
long exclusively  to  this  mode  of  travel.  Each  man,  how- 
ever, as  if  instigated  by  the  evil  spirit  of  the  locality',  had, 
before  arriving  at  the  canon,  examined  his  weapons  of  de- 
fence and  placed  them  in  a  convenient  position  for  use  in 
case  of  necessity.  Mile  after  mile  was  passed,  and  more 
than  half  the  distance  through  the  canon  had  been  trav- 
elled, when  a  voice  issuing  from  a  clump  of  bushes  by  the 
roadside  sternly  connnanded  the  driver  to  halt,  and  at 
the  same  moment  the  muzzles  of  nine  or  ten  guns  were 
presented  at  the  passengers,  who  were  ordered  to  throw 
up  their  hands.  "Robbers!  Fire  on  them!"  exclaimed 
Parker,  who  had  taken  a  seat  on  the  outside  of  the  coach 
for  the  purpose  of  watching, —  and  suiting  the  action  to 
the  word,  he  cocked  and  raised  his  gun  and  attempted  to 
fire,  but  fell  forward  riddled  with  buck-shot.  At  the  same 
time  other  shots  killed  McCausland,  Mers,  and  Dinan,  and 
seriously  wounded  Carpenter,  who  escaped  by  feigning 
death,  as  one  of  the  robbers  was  about  to  shoot  him  again. 
Brown  escaped  by  plunging  into  the  surrounding  thicket 
of  bushes.  Charley  Parks,  the  express  messenger,  received 
a  serious  wound  which  necessitated  the  amputation  of  the 
leg  at  the  thigh.  The  murderers  then  completed  their 
work  by  rifling  the  bodies  of  their  victims,  and  seizing 
whatever  treasure  they  could  find  upon  and  within  the 
coach,  and  then  made  their  escape  through  the  basaltic 
gateways  to  the  fastnesses  of  the  mountains.  The  driver, 
with  his  ghastly   freight  of  dead  and  wounded,  returned 


THE  STAGE  COACH  523 

to  the  station.  Large  rewards  were  offered  by  the  stage 
company  for  the  arrest  of  the  desperadoes  who  had  com- 
mitted tliis  frightful  butchery,  and  for  the  recovery  of 
the  stolen  treasure.  Many  members  of  the  Vigilante  or- 
ganization of  Montana  started  in  pursuit,  but  all  attempts 
to  trace  the  murderers  were  for  some  time  abortive. 

Frank  Williams,  the  driver  of  the  coach,  soon  after  left 
the  employ  of  the  stage  company,  and  was  for  some  time 
a  hanger-on  of  the  saloons  of  Salt  Lake  City.  The  lavish 
use  he  made  of  money  while  there,  excited  the  suspicion 
of  those  who  were  in  pursuit  of  the  robbers,  and  when  he 
left  the  city,  they  followed  him  and  watched  him  closely, 
until  satisfied  that  he  was  using  money  in  larger  amounts 
than  he  could  have  obtained  honestly.  At  Godfrey's  Sta- 
tion, between  Denver  and  Julcsburg,  they  arrested  him. 
Conscience-smitten,  he  fell  upon  his  knees  at  the  feet  of  his 
accusers,  and  made  a  full  confession,  implicating  eleven 
confederates,  whose  names  and  places  of  abode  he  revealed. 
He  admitted  that  he  had  driven  the  coach  into  the  ambush 
for  the  purpose  of  aiding  the  robbery,  in  the  avails  of 
which  he  was  a  participant.  It  probably  never  occurred 
to  him  that  the  murder  of  the  passengers  was  possible ;  and 
from  the  moment  of  its  occurrence  he  had  not  known  a 
moment's  peace  of  mind  or  freedom  from  fear  of  arrest. 
He  was  hanged  near  Denver  immediately  after  his  arrest 
and  confession.  The  information  he  gave  enabled  his  cap- 
tors to  eventually  secure  the  persons  of  several  others  en- 
gaged in  the  robbery,  who  were  summarily  executed, —  but 
the  larger  portion  of  the  robbers  are  still  at  large. 

There  have  been  several  coach  robberies  in  Port-Neuf 
Canon  and  the  vicinity  since  the  one  here  recorded,  but 
none  in  which  life  was  taken.  Indeed,  attacks  upon  the 
downward  bound  coach  became  so  frequent  that  for  several 
years  before  the  completion  of  the  railroad  the  stage  com- 
pany provided  for  each  treasure  coach  a  guard,  whose 


524   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

business  it  was  to  defend  both  treasure  and  passengers 
by  all  means  in  his  power.  Among  the  men  selected  for 
this  duty  they  made  choice  of  two  who  had  figured  con- 
spicuously in  the  early  Vigilante  history  of  Montana, 
John  X.  Beidler  and  John  Fetherstun. 

The  only  stage  station  in  this  canon  was  known  by  the 
very  appropriate  name  of  "  Robbers'  Roost,"  and  I  never 
passed  the  place  without  a  feeling  of  mingled  sadness  and 
horror  at  the  recollection  of  the  tragedy  which  has  given 
it  such  a  bloody  notoriety.  Forty-six  times  have  I  passed 
through  this  canon  on  trips  from  Montana  to  the  States 
and  returning.  It  has  been  with  me  a  life-long  custom 
to  take  my  seat  with  the  driver,  and  occasionally  when  rid- 
ing through  the  canon,  clad  in  a  buffalo  overcoat,  with 
headgear  to  correspond,  I  have  experienced  an  instinctive 
feeling  of  discomfort  at  the  thought  that  I  might  be  mis- 
taken for  a  guard,  who  is  always  deemed  the  legitimate 
prey  of  the  road  agent,  and  shot  down  by  some  avenging 
Nemesis  of  the  band.  The  robbers,  however,  seldom  de- 
mand the  money  or  other  personal  eflFects  of  the  driver  or 
messenger,  as  these,  being  of  small  value,  poorly  com- 
pensate for  the  risk  incurred  in  robbing  the  treasure-box 
and  the  passengers. 

Among  the  various  devices  I  had  thought  of  adopting 
to  escape  robbery  in  case  of  attack,  I  finally  concluded  to 
act  the  part  of  a  messenger,  with  whose  methods  long 
observation  had  made  me  familiar.  The  objection  to  this 
was  that  the  robbers  frequented  incog,  the  stations  on  the 
route  of  their  contemplated  depredations,  and  knew  the 
personnel  of  all  or  nearly  all  the  messengers.  No  mercy 
therefore  would  be  shown  to  any  one  who  was  detected  in 
the  attempt  to  personate  one  of  them.  The  risk  was  too 
gnat  to  be  Incurred  except  by  one  who  courted  adven- 
ture, or  where  the  safety  of  a  large  amount  was  involved. 
An  opportunity  finally  came. 


THE  STAGE  COACH  525 

My  duties  as  bank  examiner  required  a  visit  to  Santa 
Fe,  New  ^Mexico,  in  the  latter  part  of  June,  1878.  Hav- 
ing completed  my  examinations,  the  cashier  of  the  Second 
National  Bank  requested  me  on  my  return  to  convey  to 
Denver  a  considerable  sum  of  gold  and  currency. 

The  coach  robberies  had  been  so  numerous  for  nearly 
a  year  on  this  route,  that  Messrs.  Barlow  and  Sanderson, 
the  proprietors  of  the  stage  line  and  the  express  com- 
pany, had  refused  to  transport  treasure  over  it,  and  all 
packages  of  merchandise  were  sent  in  charge  of  trusty 
messengers.  I  reluctantly  assented,  they  taking  the  risk 
of  the  safe  conduct  of  the  money, —  the  other  risk,  to  me 
at  least  the  greater  of  the  two,  my  own  safety,  I  had  to 
take  myself.  I  was  the  only  passenger.  No  one  else  cov- 
eted a  ride  over  the  dismal  route.  The  money  was  se- 
curely locked  in  my  valise  which  was  packed  among  the 
mail-bags  inside  the  coach.  On  arriving  at  Las  Vegas  a 
change  of  drivers  took  place.  Charley  Fernandez,  a  half- 
blood  Mexican  whose  acquaintance  I  had  made  years 
before  while  on  the  same  trip,  took  the  reins,  and  we  con- 
tinued on  our  way  in  excellent  spirits.  He  was  known  by 
the  sobriquet  "  jNIexican  Charley."  He  was  an  excellent 
whip,  and  noted  for  his  coolness  in  danger,  and  kindness  to 
his  horses.  At  Eureka,  Mr.  Stewart,  the  stage  company's 
blacksmith,  who  had  been  shoeing  the  horses  along  the 
route,  got  into  the  coach.  Fatigued  with  overwork,  he  re- 
arranged the  mail-bags  and  spread  his  blankets,  and,  with- 
out my  knowledge,  removed  my  valise  containing  the  money 
to  the  front  boot  of  the  coach.  The  first  half  of  the  night 
had  worn  away.  Charley  had  told  me  a  great  number  of 
thrilling  incidents  about  the  stage  travel,  and  the  trouble 
with  road  agents  along  the  road.  The  subject,  though 
interesting,  was  not  at  the  time  and  under  the  circum- 
stances particularly  inspiring,  especially  as  we  were  now 
passing  through  the  infested  portion  of  the  route.     I  had 


526   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

contrived  to  fall  into  n  doze,  and  in  that  creepy  mood  so 
common  to  people  whose  condition  is  half-way  between 
slumber  and  wakefulness,  had  so  con-jumbled  road  agents 
and  stage  coaches,  that  but  for  a  fortunate  jolt  now  and 
then,  I  should  probably  have  fallen  into  the  unhappy  con- 
sciousness that  I  was  really  a  victim  to  robbery  and  dis- 
aster. We  were  passing  at  a  moderate  pace  a  cluster  of 
isolated  hills,  known  in  that  region  as  "  Wagon  Mound 
Buttes."  The  horses  liad  just  begun  with  slackened  gait 
to  ascend  a  grade,  when  Charley  roused  me  from  my  rev- 
cry  by  a  quick,  short,  half-breathless  ejaculation, 
"  What  's  that  in  the  road  ahead  of  us?  "  Every  sense  I 
possessed  was  roused  in  an  instant.  The  trust  I  had  un- 
dertaken gave  me  infinite  concern,  and  I  confess  to  an 
alarm  bordering  upon  fear.  If  I  had  left  that  money 
behind,  I  thought,  I  should  have  little  trouble  in  taking 
care  of  myself.  Peering  into  the  darkness  at  that  mo- 
ment partially  dispelled  by  the  rising  moon,  I  discovered, 
about  fifty  yards  in  front,  two  objects  just  disappearing 
among  the  bushes  by  the  roadside. 

"  I  guess,"  said  Charley,  reassuringly,  *'  it  's  nothing 
but  burros." 

"Quite  likely,  Charley,"  I  replied.  "We  have  seen 
tjiem  at  intervals  all  the  way." 

*'  That  's  what  it  is,  you  may  depend,"  rejoined  Char- 
ley. "  I  'vc  often  mistook  'em  before  for  the  blasted  road 
agents.     But  I  was  a  leetle  skeered  at  fust,  warn't  you?" 

"  Considerably,  Charley.  I  don't  want  to  meet  them 
this  time,  at  any  rate." 

'*  No  danger,  I  guess,"  said  Charley,  as  he  touched  his 
leaders  with  the  whip  to  urge  them  up  the  grade. 

The  horses  pulled  along  at  a  quicker  gait,  and  I  was 
settling  back  into  a  state  of  tranquil  sonmolence,  happy 
in  tlie  thought  that  we  were  not  probably  the  first  men 
wlio  had  been   frightened  by  a  couple  of  jackasses,  when 


THE  STAGE  COACH  527 

suddenly,  as  if  springing  out  of  the  solid  earth,  two  men 
jumped  from  the  bushes.  They  were  about  twenty  feet 
apart.  The  one  most  distant,  a  short,  rather  slender  per- 
son, seized  the  bits  of  the  leaders  with  his  left  hand,  hold- 
ing in  the  right  a  cocked  revolver.  The  other,  a  stalwart 
figure  of  six  feet,  with  corresponding  physical  propor- 
tions, raised  a  double-barrelled  shotgun,  and  aiming  it 
directly  at  my  head,  shouted  in  a  fierce,  impetuous  tone, 

"  Halt !  Don't  either  of  you  move  a  hand.  I  want  that 
treasure-box."  This  startling  salutation,  with  its  accom- 
panying demonstration,  for  a  moment  filled  me  with  ap- 
prehension, but  the  quick  reply  of  Charley,  "  There  's  no 
treasure-box  aboard,"  restored  me  to  instant  calmness. 
Now,  thought  I,  is  the  time  to  put  my  chosen  theory  into 
practice,  and  pass  myself  as  express  messenger. 

"  Don't  say  a  word  to  them,  Charley !  "  said  I,  in  a 
suppressed  tone.     "  Let  me  do  the  talking." 

The  big  robber,  whose  determination  was  more  strongly 
whetted  by  Charley's  reply  to  his  first  demand,  now  spoke 
in  an  angry  tone,  and  with  his  gun  in  closer  proximity  to 
my  head,  exclaimed, 

"  I  tell  you  I  want  that  treasure-box,  and  quick  too. 
Throw  it  right  down  there,"  pointing  to  the  ground  along- 
side the  forward  wheel  of  the  coach. 

My  rapid  breathing  had  now  so  far  abated  that  I  was 
able  to  say  in  a  steady,  natural  tone, 

"  The  driver  has  told  you  the  truth.  I  have  no  treas- 
ure-box on  this  run.  I  don't  know  what  the  other  boys 
have  had.  You  fellows  have  run  the  road  to  suit  your- 
selves this  summer.  I  have  n't  had  a  treasure-box  for 
more  than  two  months." 

"  I  know  better  than  that,"  he  replied,  with  the  usual 
formula  of  oaths,  "  and  if  you  don't  throw  out  that  box, 
I  '11  shoot  the  top  of  your  head  off,"  at  the  same  time  ad- 
vancing two  or  three  steps,  and  aiming  his  gun  with  both 


528   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

barrels  cocked,  less  than  a  yard's  distance  from  ni}'  head ; 
—  by  reaching  forward  I  could  have  touched  it. 

The  man  was  very  nervous.  I  knew  that  his  object  was 
robbery  without  murder,  rather  than  murder  and  robbery 
afterwards.  In  his  excitement,  which  had  been  rapidly 
increasing  in  intensity,  I  feared  that  he  might  uninten- 
tionally pull  the  triggers  on  which  his  fingers  were  rest- 
ing. To  possibly  avoid  a  fatal  result  in  such  case,  I 
moved  my  head  backward  and  forward,  to  the  right  and 
left,  and  tried  to  keep  as  much  out  of  range  as  possible. 
All  to  no  purpose: — the  gun  kept  motion  with  me,  and 
held  me  constantly  in  range.      I  finally  said  to  him, 

"  Oblige  me  by  holding  your  gun  a  little  out  of  range 
with  my  head.  You  've  got  the  drop  on  me,  but  I  can't 
believe  you  wish  to  kill  a  man  wlio  is  ready  to  give  you  all 
he  has.'^' 

"  You  just  give  me  that  treasure-box,  and  you  won't 
be  hurt,"  he  replied,  in  an  obstinate  tone,  with  his  gun 
still  in  position. 

The  other  robber,  seemingly  much  amused  at  the  fear 
I  manifested  for  my  safety,  in  a  jocular  manner  shouted 
to  me,  in  a  voice  peculiarly  feminine, 

"  Docs  them  gun-barrels  look  pretty  big?  " 

I  replied  that  I  could  not  readily  recall  a  time  in  my 
life  when  gun-barrels  looked  quite  as  large  as  they  did  at 
that  moment,  and  that  although  neither  the  moon  nor 
stars  were  very  bright,  yet  I  was  quite  sure  I  could  read 
the  advertisements  on  a  page  of  The  Xerc  York  Herald 
which  they  had  used  for  gim  wadding. 

This  answer  excited  their  mirth,  and  tliey  laughed  quite 
heartily,  but  it  did  not  divert  them  from  their  purpose. 
After  parleying  with  them  a  few  minutes  longer,  I  handed 
the  big  man  the  way-pocket  containing  the  way-bill,  and 
told  him  that  the  entire  contents  of  the  coach  were  entered 
on    it,    and    he    could    satisfv   himself   that    there   was   no 


THE  STAGE  COACH  529 

treasure-box  on  board.  They  made  the  examination  and 
were  convinced. 

During  this  research  tliey  watched  our  movements 
closel}',  lest  Charley  or  I  should  draw  a  weapon.  Neither 
of  us  was  armed.  Returning  the  way-bill  to  the  leather 
pocket,  the  big  man  in  a  surly  tone  niquired, 

"  Got  any  passengers  aboard.''  " 

"  There  is  a  man  inside,  but  he  is  not  a  passenger,"  I 
replied. 

"  Who  is  he  then,  and  what  is  he  doing  there,  if  he  is 
not  a  passenger  .-^  " 

"  He  is  the  company's  blacksmith." 

Frenzied  with  the  disappointment  of  not  finding  a  trea- 
sure-box, and  thinking  that  I  was  screening  a  passenger 
by  calling  him  an  employee,  the  robber  exclaimed, 

"  That  's  played  out.  I  want  that  man,"  and,  rattling 
the  coach  door,  in  language  redundant  with  profane  su- 
perlatives, he  ordered  him,  if  he  wished  to  escape  being 
shot,  to  come  out  and  show  himself. 

Stewart,  who  had  slept  through  all  the  previous  part 
of  the  colloquy,  on  being  thus  summarily  summoned,  com- 
prehended the  situation  of  affairs,  and  slipping  a  small 
roll  of  greenbacks  into  his  shoe,  stepped  out  of  the  coach. 

"  Throw  up  your  hands,"  was  the  stern  command  ad- 
dressed to  him  emphasized  by  the  double  muzzle  of  a 
loaded  gun  within  a  few  feet  of  his  head.  He  was  not 
slow  to  comply,  nor  to  submit  with  the  best  possible  grace 
to  the  search  which  followed,  yielding  only  a  single  Mexi- 
can dollar. 

The  fury  of  the  robber  as  he  held  this  meagre  trophy  of 
his  enterprise  up  to  the  pale  moonlight  was  dramatic  in 
the  highest  possible  degree,  and  yet  so  associated  with  his 
earlier  disappointments,  that  one  could  hardly  restrain 
oneself  from  bursting  into  a  fit  of  laughter. 

"  What  business  have  you,"  he  yelled,  interlarding  his 


o'SO   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

speech  with  an  unlimited  use  of  profane  and  opprobrious 
epithets,  "  to  be  travelling  through  this  country  with  no 
more  money  than  that?" 

Stewart  answered  that  he  was  the  horse-shoer  of  the 
company,  which  paid  his  bills  while  on  the  road,  and  he 
therefore  had  no  need  of  money  while  thus  employed. 

After  a  careful  examination  of  Stewart's  hands,  which 
were  found  to  be  hard  and  callous,  and  the  discovery  of  a 
box  containing  the  tools  used  in  horse-shoeing,  the  rob- 
ber was  satisfied  that  he  had  told  the  truth,  and  returned 
the  Mexican  dollar.  Baffled  at  all  points,  he  hurled  the 
way-pocket  into  the  sage  brush,  and  in  a  tone  of  mingled 
anger  and  disgust,  exclaimed, 

"  No  passengers,  no  treasure-box,  no  nothing.  This  is 
a  —  of  an  outfit."  With  his  gun  still  in  point-blank  range, 
he  crept  close  beside  the  front  wheel,  and  by  the  subdued 
light  gazed  scrutinizingly  into  my  face  for  a  brief  space, 
as  if  to  ascertain  whether  he  had  ever  seen  me  before.  He 
repeated  this  so  often  that  I  feared  he  would  resolve  the 
doubt  he  evidently  entertained  of  my  assured  office  against 
me,  and  shoot  me  for  the  imposition.  This  to  me  was  the 
most  terrible  moment  of  the  encounter.  I  returned  his 
stare  each  time  with  an  impassive  countenance,  resolved  at 
all  hazards  to  persist  in  my  experiment.  While  thus  oc- 
cupied, he  directed  his  companion  to  examine  the  contents 
of  the  rearward  bot)t  and  overhaul  the  mail  bags  within  the 
coach.  Ten  minutes  later,  the  search  proving  abortive,  he 
said  in  slow,  measured  tones,  dropping  back  a  few  paces, 

"  Well,  I  guess  you  'd  better  drive  on." 

Charley  gatjiered  up  the  reins,  and  was  about  giving  the 
word  to  his  horses,  when  it  occurred  to  me  that  I  might 
complete  the  deception  I  had  all  along  ]iracticed  by  a  little 
ruse  which  the  occasion  seemed  to  demand. 

"  Hold  on,  Charley,"  and  turning  to  the  discomfited 
man  I  added, 


THE  STAGE  COACH  531 

*'  I  want  my  way-pocket." 

"  You  can't  have  it,"  was  the  prompt  reply. 

"  But  I  must  have  it,"  I  insisted.  ""  I  can't  go  on  with- 
out it.  The  company  will  discharge  a  messenger  who  loses 
his  way-pocket." 

This  reply  seemed  to  allay  his  suspicions.  He  stepped 
into  the  sage  brush  and  returned  in  a  few  minutes  with 
the  pocket,  which  he  gave  me,  and  ordered  us  quite  per- 
emptorily to  drive  on. 

Charley  needed  no  second  invitation,  but  drove  on  quite 
briskly.  After  mutually  congratulating  each  other  on  our 
escape,  we  naturally  recounted  the  events  of  the  evening, 
and  among  other  things  commented  upon  the  feminine 
voice  of  the  smaller  of  the  robbers ;  but  I  soon  dismissed 
the  subject,  feeling  too  well  satisfied  with  the  success  of 
an  artifice  which  had  saved  the  bank  a  considerable  sum 
of  money,  and  possibl}^  both  of  us  from  a  fatal  calamity. 

Several  months  after  this  adventure,  while  returning  by 
stage  from  Leadville  to  Pueblo,  the  driver  directed  my  at- 
tention to  a  grave  marked  by  a  low  wooden  slab  on  the 
plateau  overlooking  the  Arkansas  River  a  short  distance 
below  Buena  Vista.  Just  beyond  it  was  an  abrupt  ra- 
vine. 

"  I  never  pass  that  grave,"  said  the  driver,  "  without 
being  reminded  of  the  event  connected  with  it.  A  few 
weeks  ago  a  band  of  horses  had  been  stolen  from  a  ranche 
on  the  road  between  Trinidad  and  Wagon  Mound  Buttes, 
by  two  horse  thieves  who  were  pursued  by  the  owners 
over  the  range  into  the  Arkansas  Valley.  They  were  over- 
taken with  the  stolen  herd  in  that  ravine.  On  attempting 
to  enter  it  the  smaller  thief  commanded  the  pursuing  party 
to  halt,  disregarding  which,  he  fired  upon  and  wounded 
two  of  them.  Roused  by  the  firing,  the  other  thief  ap- 
peared, and  a  pitched  battle  ensued,  in  which  he  was  slain 
outright,  and  the  other  fatally  wounded.     Surgical  aid  was 


)32   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

obtained,  and  the  surviving  thief  was  found  to  bo  a  woman. 
Slie  died  in  a  few  days  thereafter,  refusing  to  the  hist  to 
reveal  her  history,  or  furnish  any  clew  by  which  it  might 
be  traced."  This  event  occurring  so  soon  after  the  at- 
tempt to  rob  the  coach,  convinced  the  people  thereabouts 
of  the  identity  of  the  persons  engaged  in  both  outrages. 

Many  of  the  "  home  stations  "  on  the  stage  lines,  where 
meals  were  served,  were  favorite  camping-grounds  for 
freighters  engaged  in  the  transportation  of  merchandise 
from  the  railroad  to  the  interior  towns.  On  the  road 
between  Kelton  and  Boise,  the  station  at  Rock  Creek,  one 
hundred  miles  distant  from  the  railroad,  was  kept  by 
Charles  Trotter.  It  was  one  of  the  few  stopping-places 
where  palatable  meals  were  served.  Its  reputation  in  this 
respect  won  for  it  a  widespread  popularity  with  the  travel- 
ling public,  and  in  process  of  time  a  small  settlement 
sprung  up  around  it.  A  store  was  opened,  where  emi- 
grants and  others  could  obtain  provisions,  clothing,  and 
such  other  necessaries  as  they  needed.  Naturally  enough, 
many  of  the  new-comers  were  rough  in  their  tastes,  fond  of 
gambling,  drinking,  and  the  athletic  sports  common  in  an 
unorganized  community.  The  influence  exercised  by  a  few 
citizens  of  the  better  class  was  all  that  saved  the  little  set- 
tlement from  lapsing  into  lawlessness  and  crime. 

My  diary  for  1877  shows  that  on  September  17  I 
passed  through  Rock  Creek  by  stage  ni  route  for  Boise. 
Our  coach  entered  the  place  about  the  middle  of  the  after- 
noon. An  Englishman  who  had  arrived  in  America  a 
fortnight  before,  was  the  only  passenger  besides  myself.  It 
was  his  first  journey  in  a  stage  coach,  and  the  rough  and 
desolate  region  through  which  it  lay  presented  to  his  mind 
many  features  of  novelty  and  interest,  mingled  with  no 
little  disquietude  at  the  strange  character  of  his  surround- 
ings.   He  was  in  a  condition  to  be  alarmed  at  anything. 

As  we  alighted   from   the  coach,  our  attention  was  di- 


THE  STAGE  COACH  533 

reeled  by  loud  hilarious  singing  to  a  company  of  twenty 
or  more  men  approaching  the  station,  bearing  in  their 
midst  a  long  pine  box.  1  perceived  at  once  that  it  was  a 
funeral  orgie  over  the  burial  of  some  wretch  who  had  paid 
tile  penalty  of  a  sunmiary  death  for  a  life  of  crime.  A 
person  standing  near  me  replied  to  my  inquiry  as  to  the 
cause.  He  said  that  about  two  years  previous  to  this 
time,  a  stranger  came  one  morning  to  the  station  and 
asked  for  breakfast.  He  was  hungry  and  moneyless. 
Mr.  Trotter  gave  him  a  breakfast  and  he  left;  but  some- 
thing about  his  actions  and  appearance  aroused  Trotter's 
suspicions,  and,  concealed  by  the  sage  brush,  he  tracked 
hlni  for  some  distance  across  the  plain,  and  came  up  with 
iiim  as  he  was  in  the  act  of  mounting  a  horse  which 
Trotter  recognized  as  the  property  of  a  friend  in  Boise. 
Believing  that  the  horse  had  been  stolen.  Trotter  arrested 
the  man,  who  gave  his  name  as  William  Dowdle,  sent  him 
to  Boise,  where  he  was  tried  for  the  theft,  convicted,  and 
sentenced  to  two  years'  imprisonment  in  the  Idaho  Pen- 
itentiary. Dowdle  avowed  that  if  he  lived  to  be  free,  he 
would  kill  Trotter.  At  the  close  of  his  term  he  obtained 
employment  as  cook  for  a  freighter  named  Johnson,  and 
slowly  wended  his  way  to  Rock  Creek,  where  his  employer 
and  party  camped  for  a  day  to  replenish  their  stock  of 
provisions. 

The  next  morning,  armed  with  a  revolver,  Dowdle  went 
to  the  station  to  execute  his  threat,  and  was  greatly 
chagrined  to  learn  that  Trotter  was  confined  to  his  bed 
with  typhoid  fever.  He  sought  to  alleviate  his  disap- 
pointment in  liquor,  which  maddened  him  to  that  degree 
that  he  threatened  the  lives  of  several  persons,  and,  seat- 
ing himself  beside  the  road,  fired  indiscriminately  at  all 
who  passed  him.  One  shot  hit  a  Mr.  Spencer,  a  blacksmith, 
who  was  passing  quietly  along,  inflicting  what  was  sup- 
posed to  be  a  mortal  wound.      Attracted  by  the  reports 


534  VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

of  the  pistol,  young  Wolilgannitli,  a  relative  of  Trotter 
who  had  charge  of  the  .store,  hurried  to  the  doorway, 
when  a  bullet  from  Dowdle's  pistol  penetrated  the  door- 
casing,  just  grazing  his  head.  He  innnediately  grasped 
his  revolver  from  a  shelf  hard  by,  and  shot  Dowdle  through 
the  heart.  The  villain  fell  prostrate  in  the  road,  exclaim- 
ing, "  Such  is  life,  boys,  in  the  days  of  forty-nine,"  and 
died  instantly.  The  entire  settlement  manifested  their 
approval  of  Wohlgamuth's  timely  shot  by  a  season  of 
general  rejoicing,  and  a  coroner's  jury  exonerated  him 
from  all  blame. 

The  funeral  followed  speedily.  A  rude  coffin  of  pine, 
with  four  handles  of  cords  knotted  into  the  sides,  was  the 
single  preparation.  In  this  the  body,  incased  in  John- 
son's overcoat,  was  laid,  fully  exposed,  the  cover  of  the 
box  being  laid  aside  until  the  conclusion  of  the  ceremonies. 
Four  strong  men  grasped  the  handles,  and  lifting  the 
coffin,  the  procession  formed  about  equally  in  front  and 
rear  of  them,  and  the  march  commenced.  Frequent 
potations  had  exhilarated  the  entire  company  to  such  a 
degree  that  no  attempt  was  made  to  preserve  regularity 
of  motion  or  direction.  The  line  of  march  was  between 
a  ridge  on  the  south  and  one  on  the  north  side  of  the 
station,  about  a  mile  apart.  No  clergyman  was  present 
to  conduct  the  exercises,  and  no  layman  was  in  condition 
to  offer  a  prayer  or  read  the  scriptures.  The  exigency 
could  only  be  supplied  by  vocal  music;  and  in  the  absence 
of  hymn  books  it  was  thought  to  be  exceedingly  proper 
and  befitting  the  occasion  for  all  to  join  in  an  old  Cali- 
fornia refrain  entitled,  "  The  Days  of  Forty-Nine."  In- 
deed, the  last  words  of  Dowdle  seemed  to  convey  a  request 
for  it.  Tile  song  was  a  doggerel  composed  in  the  early 
Pacific  mining  days  in  commemoration  of  ""  Lame  Jesse," 
a  kindred  spirit  to  Dowdle.  The  mourners  on  this  occa- 
sion substituted  for  the  name  of  "  Lame  Jesse,"  that  of 


THE  STAGE  COACH  535 

"  Dowdlc  Bill."  This  musical  service  was  progressing  us 
our  coach  drove  up  to  the  station.  The  song  consisted 
of  a  score  or  more  of  verses  of  which  I  can  recall  the  fol- 
lowing only : 

"Old  Dowdlc  Bill  was  a  hard  old  case; 
He  never  would  repent. 
He  never  was  known  to  miss  a  meal, — 
He  never  paid  a  cent. 

"  Old  Dowdle  Bill,  like  all  the  rest. 
He  did  to  Death  resign ; 
And  in  his  bloom  went  up  the  flume, 
In  the  days  of  Forty-Nine." 

Mrs.  Trotter  informed  me  that  this  procession  of  men 
bearing  the  coffin,  had  marched  to  and  fro  between  the 
two  ridges  m  a  state  of  drunken  revelry  for  a  period  of 
five  hours ;  some  singing  one,  some  another  verse,  produc- 
ing an  utter  confusion  of  sound,  and  so  excited  as  to  be 
utterly  unable  to  preserve  a  straight  line.  At  one  of  their 
halts  near  the  coach,  Johnson,  who  was  at  the  moment  one 
of  the  bearers,  discovered  that  his  own  overcoat  covered 
the  body. 

" if  they  have  n't  laid  him  out  in  my  blue  over- 
coat !  "  he  exclaimed,  and  loosening  his  hold  of  the  han- 
dle, he  raised  the  body,  removed  the  coat,  and  put  it  on 
his  own  back.  The  march  was  then  resumed,  and  amid 
singing,  shouts,  and  laughter,  the  body  was  borne  to  a 
low  ridge  and  buried. 

Supper  being  soon  announced,  my  English  fellow- 
traveller  did  not  appear  at  the  table.  He  was  perfectly 
appalled  at  the  scene  he  had  witnessed. 

"  Is  this,"  he  inquired,  with  much  earnestness,  "  the 
usual  way  funerals  are  conducted  in  this  wild  country? 
We  never  have  such  proceedings  in  England,  you  know. 
If  the  better  class  of  people  do  such  things,  the  country 


536  VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

must  be  pretty  rough.     I  did  n't  know  but  they  'd  take  inc 
next,  and  I  had  n't  any  appetite." 

I  assured  him  that  our  lives  were  perfectly  safe;  but 
it  was  not  until  we  reached  the  next  eating  station,  that 
hunger  seemed  to  conquer  his  fears,  and  he  was  fully 
reassured. 


CHAPTER  LI 

RETROSPECTION 

IN  the  former  chapters  of  this  history,  we  have  seen  that 
the  people  of  Montana  did  not  adopt  the  Vigilante 
code  until  a  crisis  had  arrived  when  the  question  of  su- 
premacy between  them  and  an  organized  band  of  robbers 
and  murderers  could  be  decided  only  by  a  trial  of  strength. 
When  that  time  came,  the  prompt  and  decisive  measures 
adopted  by  the  Vigilantes  brought  peace  and  security  to 
the  people.  If  any  of  the  murderous  band  of  marauders 
remained  in  the  Territory,  fear  of  punishment  kept  them 
quiet.  Occasionally  indeed  a  man  would  be  murdered  in 
some  of  the  desolate  canons  while  returning  to  the  States, 
but  whenever  this  occurred  the  offenders  were  generally 
hunted  down  and  summarily  executed. 

When  the  executive  and  judicial  officers  appointed  by 
the  government  arrived  in  the  Territory  in  the  Autumn  of 
1864,  they  found  the  mining  camps  in  the  enjoyment  of 
a  repose  which  was  broken  only  by  the  varied  recreations 
which  an  unorganized  society  necessarily  adopts  to  pass 
away  the  hours  unemployed  in  the  mines.  The  people 
had  perfect  confidence  in  the  code  of  the  Vigilantes,  and 
many  of  them  scouted  the  idea  of  there  being  any  better 
law  for  their  protection.  They  had  made  up  their  minds 
to  punish  all  lawbreakers,  and  there  were  many  who  did 
not  hesitate  to  declare  to  the  newly  arrived  officers,  that 
while  the  courts  might  be  called  upon  in  the  settlement  of 
civil  cases,  the  people  wanted  no  other  laws  in  dealing  with 
horse-thieves,  robbers,  and  murderers,  than  the  ones  they 

587 


538   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

themselves  h.id  made.  This  fcchng,  though  not  so  gen- 
eral as  was  claimed  for  it,  was  (juite  prevalent  at  that  time 
among  the  miners.  As  soon,  however,  as  they  found  the 
courts  adequate  to  their  necessities,  they  readily  con- 
formed to  the  laws  and  their  administration  after  the  man- 
TWT  prescribed  by  the  government,  and  the  Vigilante  rule 
gradually  disappeared.  In  several  extreme  cases  they  an- 
ticipated by  innncdiate  action  the  slower  processes  of  law, 
but  this  occurred  only  when  the  offence  was  of  a  very 
aggravated  character. 

Some  of  the  leading  newspapers  of  the  nation,  and  the 
people  of  many  of  the  older  connnunities  where  the  hand 
of  the  law  was  strong,  and  sufficient  for  the  protection  of 
all,  have  denounced  the  action  of  the  Vigilantes  as  cruel, 
barbarous,  and  criminal ;  but  none  of  them  have  had  the 
perspicacity  to  discover  any  milder  or  more  efficacious  sub- 
stitute,—  though  apologies  and  excuses  for  the  nmrderers 
have  been  numerous  and  persistent.  The  facts  nar- 
rated in  these  volumes  are  a  sufficient  reply  to  these  has- 
tily formed  opinions.  The  measures  adopted  were  strictly 
defensive,  and  those  who  resorted  to  them  knew  full  well 
that  when  the  federal  courts  should  be  organized,  they 
themselves  would  in  turn  be  held  accountable  before  the 
law  for  any  unwarrantable  exercise  of  power  in  applying 
them.  The  necessity  of  the  hour  was  their  justification. 
Too  much  credit  can  never  be  awarded  to  the  brave  and 
noble  men  who  put  them  in  force.  They  checked  the  emi- 
gration into  Montana  of  a  large  criminal  population,  and 
tiiereby  prevented  the  complete  extermination  of  its  peace- 
loving  people,  and  its  abandonment  by  those  who  have 
since  demonstrated,  by  a  development  of  its  varied  re- 
sources, its  capacity  for  becoming  an  immense  industrial 
State  of  the  Union.  They  opened  up  the  way  for  an  in- 
creasing tide  of  emigration  from  the  East,  to  this  new  and 
delightful  portion  of  our  country.     They  sought  mainly 


RETROSPECTION  539 

to  protect  every  man  in  the  enjoyment  of  his  own,  and  to 
afford  every  citizen  equal  opportunity  to  seek  for  and  ob- 
tain the  hoarded  wealth  of  the  unexplored  mountains  and 
gulches  in  the  richest  portion  of  the  continent.  They  made 
laws  for  a  country  without  law,  and  executed  them  with  a  v 
vigor  suited  to  every  exigency. 

Not  one  of  that  large  cosmopolitan  community  who 
faced  the  realities  of  brigand  domination  and  aggression, 
ever  complained  of  the  means  by  which  they  were  ter- 
minated. The  change  was  as  welcome  to  them  as  sunlight 
to  the  flowers,  or  rain  to  the  parched  earth.  It  changed 
their  fear  into  courage,  and  their  despondency  into  hope. 
It  cheered  them  with  the  promise  that  their  hard  toil  and 
coarse  fare  would  eventuate  in  good,  and  that  the  star 
which  had  led  them  from  homes  of  comfort  to  these  dis- 
tant wilds,  did  not, — 

"  Meteor-like,  flame  lawless  through  the  skies." 

A  marked  improvement  soon  became  visible  in  all  classes 
of  society.  Pistols  were  no  longer  fired,  and  bowie-knives  n/ 
were  no  longer  flourished  in  the  saloons.  Gambling, 
though  still  followed  as  a  pursuit  by  many,  was  freed  from 
all  dangerous  concomitants,  and  the  hurdy-gurdy  houses 
wore  an  appearance  of  decency  and  order  that  they  had  not 
known  before.  An  air  of  civil  restraint  took  the  place  of 
recklessness  in  personal  deportment,  and  men  lived  and 
acted  as  if  they  had  suddenly  found  something  in  the  com- 
munity worthy  of  their  respect.  This  enforced  reforma- 
tion was  only  to  be  preserved  by  a  rigid  observance  of 
the  regulations  which  had  produced  it.  There  were  hun- 
dreds of  men  in  the  Territory  ready  to  take  advantage  of 
the  smallest  relaxation,  to  rush  again  into  organized  rob- 
bery and  murder.  The  Vigilantes  understood  this,  and 
that  there  might  be  no  mistaking  their  intentions,  they 
]nirsued  every  criminal,  from  the  greatest  to  the  smallest. 


540  VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

oftentimes  aiding  the  civil  authorities,  and  suffering  no 
guilty  man  who  fell  into  their  hands  to  escape  punishment. 
Nearly  one-half  of  a  century  has  elapsed  since  the 
United  States  Congress  gave  to  Montana  a  territorial  gov- 
ernment. At  that  time  it  was  the  wildest  and  least  in- 
habited portion  of  our  national  domain.  A  very  small 
portion  of  it  only  had  been  reclaimed  from  the  savage 
tribes  which  iiad  inhabited  it  for  centuries  —  the  few  whites 
who  had  gone  there  holding  it  b}'  an  occupancy  so  nearly 
divided  between  the  lovers  and  the  violators  of  law  and  or- 
der, that  it  was  next  to  impossible  to  convert  it  into  a 
peaceful,  law-abiding  community.  There  was  nothing  in 
the  writings  of  early  explorers  to  render  it  attractive  for 
any  of  the  purposes  of  permanent  settlement.  Captains 
Lewis  and  Clark,  wjio  explored  this  region  in  1804-5-6,  had 
told  of  its  great  rivers  and  valleys,  its  rocks  and  its  moun- 
tains, and  the  numerous  nomadic  tribes  which  subsisted 
upon  the  herds  of  buffaloes,  elks,  and  antelopes,  that  fed 
on  its  perennial  grasses.  Their  story  had  been  repeated 
in  more  graphic  form  by  Washington  Irving  in  his  version 
of  Captain  IJonncville's  expedition.  Trappers  and  huntt-rs 
belonging  to  the  Northwestern  and  American  fur  com- 
panies, had  told  many  thrilling  adventures  of  their  fre- 
quent conflicts  witii  Indians  and  grizzlies ;  but  no  one  had 
ever  testified  to  the  vast  wealth  of  its  mountains  and 
gulches,  the  surpassing  fertility  of  its  valleys  and  plains, 
and  the  navigability  and  water  facilities  of  its  wonderful 
rivers.  The  possibility  that  it  could  ever  become  anything 
more  than  a  field  for  fur-hunters,  or  a  reserve  for  some  of 
our  Indian  tribes,  had  never  been  seriously  considered  by 
any  one.  All  the  worst  crimes  known  to  the  Decalogue 
stained  Its  Infant  annals,  imtil,  roused  by  a  spirit  of  self- 
defence,  the  sober-minded  and  resolute  population  visited 
in  tlu'Ir  mlgiit  with  condign  punishment  the  organized 
bands  of  ruffians  which  had  preyed  upon   tjieir  lives  and 


RETROSPECTION  541 

propert3\  Tlicsc,  as  wc  have  seen,  were  speedily  swept 
away  from  the  face  of  the  earth,  and  the  organization  of 
tlie  Territory  was  then  complete.  To-day  Montana  is  the 
most  attractive  of  all  the  States  recently  admitted  into  the 
Union.  With  a  large  and  increasing  population  dwelling 
in  the  cities,  agricultural  and  mining  districts,  it  is  rap- 
idly growing  into  one  of  the  most  powerful  States  of  the 
Union.  Favored  b}'  nature  with  a  healthful  climate,  and 
with  seasons  of  heat  and  cold  equally  distributed,  it  can- 
not fail  to  give  birth  to  a  hardy,  vigorous,  and  enterpris- 
ing people.  The  development  of  its  vast  and  varied 
resources  has  just  commenced,  yet,  under  its  inspiring  in- 
fluence, large  cities  have  sprung  up,  manufactories  have 
been  established,  vast  valleys  subdued,  great  railroads 
constructed,  and  the  work  of  a  steady  and  increasing  im- 
provement made  everywhere  visible  throughout  its  borders. 
INIany  of  the  noble-hearted  pioneers  who  placed  them- 
selves in  the  van  of  this  movement  have  passed  away. 
Montana,  now  a  State  of  the  Union,  may  well  mourn  the 
loss  of  such  courageous  spirits  as  James  Stuart,  Walter 
Dance,  Neil  Howie,  John  Fetherstun,  Dr.  Glick,  John  X. 
Beidler,  and  many  more  who  have  not  lived  to  see  her  in 
her  day  of  grandeur  and  triumph.  A  time  should  never 
come  when  the  memory  of  these  men  should  cease  to  be 
venerated.  It  should  never  be  forgotten  that  Montana 
owes  its  present  freedom  from  crime,  its  present  security 
for  life  and  propert}^  to  the  early  achievements  of  these 
self-denying  men,  and  of  their  comrades, who  still  survive; 
who  established  law  where  no  law  existed,  spoke  order  into 
existence  when  all  order  was  threatened  with  destruction, 
declared  peace  where  all  was  anarchy,  and  laid  broad  and 
deep  the  foundations  of  a  great  and  populous  State  amid 
the  perils  of  robbery  and  bloodshed.  Equal  in  degree  to 
the  sacrifices  made  by  the  brave  soldiers  of  the  war  who 
saved  our  Republic,  were  the  deeds   of  those   who  saved 


542   VIGILANTE  DAYS  AND  WAYS 

Montana  from  rapine  and  slaughter.  Like  them,  the 
graves  of  the  dead  should  be  crowned  with  flowers,  and  the 
pathway  of  the  living  be  brightened  with  the  rewards  of  a 
grateful  people. 

Standing  in  the  valley  of  the  Mississippi,  and  behold- 
ing its  marvellous  development,  we  talk  of  the  West  —  its 
cities,  its  agriculture,  its  progress  —  with  rapture ;  we 
point  to  it  with  pride,  as  the  latest  and  noblest  illustra- 
tion of  our  republican  s^'stem  of  government ;  but  bejond 
the  West  which  we  so  much  admire  and  eulogize,  there  is 
another  West  where  the  work  of  development  is  just  com- 
mencing :  a  land  where  but  a  quarter  of  a  century  ago,  all 
was  bare  creation ;  whose  valleys,  now  teeming  with  frui- 
tion, had  then  never  cheered  the  vision  of  civilized  man; 
whose  rivers,  now  bordered  by  thousands  of  happy  homes, 
then  rolled  in  solitary  grandeur  to  their  union  with  the 
Missouri  and  the  Columbia ;  —  a  land  whose  rugged  feat- 
ures, civilization  with  all  its  attendant  blessings  has 
softened,  and  where  an  empire  has  sprung  up  as  if  by  en- 
chantment;—  a  land  where  all  the  advantages  and  re- 
sources of  the  West  of  yesterday  are  increased,  and  varied, 
and  spread  out  upon  a  scale  of  magnificence  that  knows  no 
parallel,  and  which  fills  the  full  measure  of  Berkeley'^ 
prophecy, — 

"  Westward   the  course  of  Empire  takes  its  way. 
The  first  four  acts  already  ])ast. 
A  fifth  shall  close  tlic  drama  with  the  day. 
Time's  noblest  offspring  is  the  last." 


The  End 


INDEX 


INDEX 


Abercrombie,  Fort,   123 
Adams,    Thomas,    1 1 1 
Aden,  Joseph,  481,  482 
Alder    Gulch,     discovery     of, 

206,     207;     settlement     of, 

221,  222,  230 
Allen,   Charley,  320 ;   murder 

of,  325 
Allen,   Jemmy,   394 
Anderson,  Resin,   1 1 1 
Ankeny,  Capt.,  338,  339,  345 
Arnett,  William,  114 
Ashley,  — ,  497 
Atkinson,  Dr.,   112 
Ault,  —,113 

Bad  Lands,  the,  494,  501,  502 
Bagg,  Charles  S.,  299 
Ball,  Smith,  368,  369 
Banfield,  — ,  176-178 
Bannack,    68,    122,    129-131, 

134-136,   188-191;  see  also 

Grasshopper  Creek 
Bannack    Indians,    118,    120, 

195-197;    final    destruction 

of,   199-203 
Barlow  &  Sanderson,  525 
Barnhardt,  Martin,  437,  438 
Beachy,  Hill,  318,  328-348 
Bear  Rapids,  497 
Bear    River,   Battle   of,    199- 


201  ;     lists     of    killed     and 

wounded,  203-205 
Beaver    Head    Diggings,    Q5, 

118 
Beidler,  J.  X.,  284,  350,  351, 

388,  463-470.   524,  541 
Bell,    William   H.,   death    of, 

181 
Benton,    Fort,    G6,    123,    126, 

498 
Berry,  Joseph  and  John,  rob- 
bery of,  59,  60 
Biddle,  Dr.  and  Mrs.,  134 
Bissell,     Dr.     Edward,     115, 

176,  207,  212,  219,  249 
Blackburn,   sheriff  of  Carson 

City,  48 ;  murder  of,  49 
Blackfeet   Indians,    122,    124, 

451,    498;    attack   of,    127- 

129 
Blake,  A.  S.,  112 
Bledso,  Captain,  478 
Bledsoe,  Matt,  56 
Bond,  Samuel   R.,   123 
Bonneville,   Capt.,   520,   540 
Bozeman,  J.  M.,  279 
Branson,  Henry,  279 
Bray,  Cornelius,   124-129 
Bridger,   — ,   497 
Broadwater,  — ,   163-170 
Brockie,  — ,  45,  55,  5Q 


545 


54.0 


INDEX 


Brookie,  Major,  1 1  j,  213,  457 

Brown,  — ,  522 

Brown,  George  M.,  of  Plum- 
mer's  band,  275,  276,  312- 
315;  execution  of,  316,  317 

Brown,  James,  212 

Br^'an,  Eliza,  afterwards 
Mrs.  Henry  Plummer,   186 

Buckner,  Hank,  478,  179 

Buffalo  Shoals,  497 

Bull,  John,  439 

Bullard,  Scott.  469 

Bunton,  Bill,  24,  28,  233,  235- 
240,  242,  243,  270,  309, 
315,  391  ;  execution  of,  392, 
393 

Bunton,  Sam,  242,  243 

Burritt,  E.  H.,  123 

Burtchy,  — ,  297 

Burton,  Elijah,  76 

Caldwell,  Tom,  244-255 

Carpenter,  — ,  522 

Carrhart,  George,  of  Plum- 
mer's  band,  133,  134,  151, 
177 

Carter,  Alex,  of  Plummer's 
band,  252,  253,  287,  294, 
309,  315,  395,  396:  execu- 
tion of.  398 

Castner,  J.  M.,   134 

Chalmers,  Horace  and  Rob- 
ert, murder  of,  325 

Cliapman.  Arthur.  56 

Charlton,  David,  123 

Chase.  H.  M.,  discovers  gold 
in  Washington  Territory, 
85 


Chase,  Lieut.,  199 
"  Cherokee    Bob,"    of    Plum- 
mer's band,  24,  40-43,  47, 

48,  50-52,  70,  71  ;  death  of, 

72 
Civil  War,  the,  22 
Claggett,  Hon.  Wm.  H.,  464. 

467 
Clancy,  Judge,    115 
Clark,     John     C,    slayer     of 

Raymond,    482 ;     execution 

of,  483 
Cleveland,    Jack,    24,    66-68, 

131  ;  murder  of,  132.  133 
Cline,    — ,    justice    at    Boise 

City,  482 
Columbia    River.    Lewis    fork 

of,   19;   Clarke  fork  of.   19 
Columbia      River     Steamboat 

Co.,  338 
Comstock  Lode,  the,  266 
Conley,  David,  429-432 
Connor,     Gen.     P.     Edward, 

196-202 
Contway,  David.    167-169 
Cook,  A.  G.,  480.  481 
Cooper,  Johnny,  one  of  Plum- 
mer's   band.    166.    168-170. 

315,    395.    396;    execution 

of.  398.  ;?99 
Copley,  George,  143,  368-370 
Courts,  and  processes  of  trial, 

among  miners.  139-141 
Craig's  Mountain.  26.  28 
Crawford,   "  Hank,"  132.  133, 

143-145,  148-157 
Crisman.    George,    249,    257, 

258 


INDEX 


547 


Culbertson,  — ,    197 

Cutler,  E.  R.,  212 

Cynthia,  mistress  of  Mayfield 

and   Cherokee   Bob,  50-52, 

70-73 

Dale,  Virginia,  wife  of 
Slade,  450,  456,  461 

Daly,  Tom,  434 

Dance,  Walter  B.,  113,  114, 
173,  231,  384,  541 

Dance  &  Stuart,  firm  of,  231. 
256 

Daniels,  James,  473 ;  execu- 
tion of,  474 

Danites,  or  Destroying  An- 
gels of  Mormon  Church, 
406 

Dart,  George,  259 

Davenport,  — ,  174;  and  his 
wife,   175 

Davis,  Alexander,  299;  judge 
of  the  People's  Court,  457- 
460 

Davis,  Jefferson,  99;  wife  of, 
207 

Dawson,  — ,  factor  at  Fort 
Benton,   126,   156 

Deer  Lodge,  gold  placers  on. 
65,  66,  118,  121 

Dempsey,  Robert,  111 

Dibb,  Dr.  W.  D.,  123 

Dillingham,  — ,  of  Plummer's 
band,  207,  219;  letter  in  re- 
gard to,  220;  murder  of, 
211 

Dimsdale,  Prof.  Thomas  J., 
quoted,   146,    147 


Dinan,    — ,    521  ;    murder    of, 

522 
Dixon,   John,   483 ;   execution 

of,  483,  484 
Dodge,  — ,  207,  208 
Donahue,  — ,   slayer  of   Pat- 
terson,  108,   109 
Dorsett,  James,  424 
Dorsett,     Rudolph,    420-423 ; 

murder  of,  424 
Dougherty,   Patrick,    124-129 
Douglas,  Camp,   195,   196 
Dowdle,  William,  533,  534 
Durley,  Jefferson,  186 
"  Dutch    Fred,"    82 ;    murder 

of,  83 
"  Dutch  John,"  of  Plummer's 
band,    215,    216,    280-284, 
286,    315,   349-359;   execu- 
tion of,  371-373 

East  Bannack,  66,  186 
Eaton,  Charles,  394 
Edgerton,  Judge  Sidney,  257, 

259,  275,  276 
Elk  City,  20,  36,  66 
Ellis,  — ,   172 
Ely,   John,    453 
English,    David,   45,    59,    60- 

62;  execution  of,  62,  63 
Evans,  — ,  slayer  of  Mayfield, 

72,   73 
Evans,  George,  murdered  by 

Cleveland,  131 
Evanson,  — ,  286 
Express,  pony,   29 

Farrell,  Tom,  332,  336 


548 


INDEX 


"  Fat  Jack,"  88;  death  of,  89 
Fernandez,  Charley,  525-531 
Fctherstun,    John,    351,    355- 

359,  371,  468,  52 1,  541 
Field,  — ,  76 
Findlay,  Fran9ois,  discoverer 

of  gold  in  Montana,  111 
Fisk.    Capt.    James    L.,    122, 

123 
Fletcher,  William,  76 
Florence,  20,  36,  53,  66 
Floyd,  Camp,  76,  77 
Forhes,     Charley,    of     Plum- 

mer's  band,  207,  208,  210, 

211,  215,  216;  trial  of,  212- 

214;  death  of,  219 
Forbes,      Melanchthon,      279, 

283 
Ford,      Patrick,      a       saloon- 
keeper in  Lewiston,  36,  38; 

murder  of,  39 
Franek,  John,  "  Long  John." 

290,  292-294,  308 
French,  Ed,  255 

Gallagher,  Jack,  of  Plum- 
mer's  band,  207,  211,  271- 
275,  277,  278,  375,  376- 
380;  execution  of,  383-387 

Gallagher,  Major,   199,  201 

Glick,  Dr.,  115,  129,  157- 
160,    175,    541 

Godfrey,   — ,    138 

Goodrich,  — ,  saloon-keeper 
nt  Bannack,   131 

Grassho{)per  Creek,  after- 
wards  Bannack,   119-121 

Graves,    William.    "  Whiskey 


Bill,"   of  Plunnner's  band, 

245-249,     294,     309,     315. 

397;  execution  of,  398 
Gridley,  Leonard  A.,  275,  276 
Grimes,  — ,  discoverer  of  gold 

on   the   Boise  River,  66 
Groves,  Dr.  Wm.  H.,  76.  77 

Hall,  Fort,  118 

Hanson,  — ,  463,  464;  mur- 
der of,  465,  466 

Harkness,  — ,  a  butcher,  28 

Harper,  Charley,  one  of 
Plummer's  associates,  40, 
44,  63,  87;  removal,  with 
band,  to  Salmon  River,  45, 
54 ;   execution   of,   88 

Hauser,  Samuel  T.,  113,  114, 
226,  255-262,  518 

Hayden,    Dr.,    454 

Heffner,   John,   424 

Helena,   Mont.,   Herald,    161 

Helm,  Boone;  74-86,  241, 
315,  376-380;  execution  of, 
383-387;  story  of  the 
stranger  about,  407,  411, 
412,  416-H8 

Hereford,  Robert,   111,  303 

Hiekey,  — ,  of  Plummer's 
band,    55 

Higgins  and  Warden,  store 
of.    174 

Hilderman.  George,  of  Phnn- 
mcr's  band,  240.  289,  290, 
295  ;  trial  of,  307.  308 

Hiltebrant.  — ,  saloon-keeper 
in  Lewiston,  32.  33.  37 


INDEX 


549 


Holliday's      Ovrrl.-iiul      Stage 

Linr,  olS 
Holtcr.    Anton    M.,    286-288 
Howard,     "Doc./'     318-330, 

3i2-3t7;  execution  of,  348 
Howie,    Neil,    230,    351-359. 

371,  478,  479,  541 
Hoyt.  J.  F.,  143,  146 
Hoyt,   Samuel   X.,    197,    198, 

200 
Hughes,  — ,  286 
Hunkins,    Col.,    113 
Hunt,  William,  422,  458,  459 
Hunter,    Bill,    of    Plummer's 

band,    151,    158,   315,   375, 

376,  400-403;  execution  of, 

404,  405 
Hurd,  A.,  481 
Hynson,    Bill,    466-472 

Idaho,  originally  comprised 
Montana  and  Wyoming,  20 

Irving,  Washington,  on  Cap- 
tain Bonneville's  expedi- 
tion,  540 

Ives,  George,  of  Plummer's 
band,  132-134,  166,  168- 
170,  227,  244-251,  261, 
280,  285,  294-297;  trial 
of,  298-301  ;  execution  of, 
302-304;  life  of,  306 

Jacobs,  John  M.,  Ill 
Jernigan,  B.  F.,   114,   115 
Johnson,  Dan,  454 
Johnson,   Frank,   478 
Jones.  M.  T.,  279 


Kellev,  — ,  421-428 
Killman,  Capt.,  441 
Kinney,    Cliief   Justice,    197 
Kirby,   — ,   a  Lewiston   gam- 
bler, 31,  32. 
Knox,  Robert  C,  123 

Lane,  George,  "  Clubfoot 
George,"  61,  231,  256,  298, 
315,  376,  377;  execution 
of,  383-387 

Langford,  N.  P.,  123-129, 
138,  142,  143,  173,  182, 
219,  225-229,  255-265, 
451-455,  485-491,  518-520, 
524-536 

Lannan,  Pat,  435-437 

Laramie,  Fort,  447,  448 

Lazarus,    Izzy,   435 

Le  Clair,  Michaud,  a  fur- 
trader,  116-119 

Le  Grau,  robbery  of,  175 

Leach,  John,  slayer  of  Han- 
son,  465,  466 

Leavitt,    Dr.,    115,    159,    228 

Lewis  and  Clark  Expedition, 
492,    493,    540 

Lewiston,  capital  of  Idaho, 
20,  22,  31-33,  225 

"  Long  John,"  see  John 
Franck 

Lott,   John   S.,  458 

Louthen,  Frank,   113 

Lowry,  Chris,  318-330,  342- 
347;   execution   of,   348 

Luce,  Jason,  242,  243 

Luella,  steamboat,  503,   513 


.).)0 


INDEX 


Lyon,  General,  killed  in  bat- 
tle of  Wilson's  Creek,   113 

Lyon,  Governor,  of  Oregon, 
32,  478,  479 

Lyons,  Hayes,  of  Plummcr's 
band,  179,  207,  208,  210, 
211,  216,  219,  315,  376, 
380-382;  trial  of,  212-214; 
execution  of,  383-388 

McAdow,  p.  W.,  112,  113 
McCausland,  — ,  521  ;  murder 

of,  522 
McClinchey,   Neil,  58 
McCormick,  279,  280 
McFadden,  Daniel,  233,  234- 

240 
McGarry,    Major,    198,    199, 

200 
McGranigan,  — ,  76,  77 
McLean,  Captain,   199 
McLean,    Col.    Samuel,    115, 

118,   119,  266 
Mackinaw    boat    travel,    492, 

497,    498;    story    of,    499- 

516 
Madison,    — ,    234,    236-240 
Magruder,  Lloyd,  murder  of, 

309,  318-326;  trace  of,  328 
Maguire,  Billy,  434 
Marcus,   Charley,   477 
Marshall,   discoverer   of   gold 

in   California,  35 
^Lirshland,    Steve,    of    Plum- 

mer's   band,   244-246,   280- 

284,  315,  350.  389;  execu- 
tion  of,   390,  391 
M.irtin.   .Folin,   76 


Martin,  Peter,  392 

^L-isons,  first  meeting  of,  in 
Bannack,  181;  funeral 
services  of  W.  H.  Bell, 
182-184;  power  of,  184, 
185 

Mayficld,  Bill,  48-51  ;  death 
of,  72,  73 

Meagher,  Governor,  473 

Meeks,  Jake,   111 

Mendenhall,  Jack,  113 

Mers,  — ,  521 ;  murder  of, 
522 

Miller,  C.  F.,  182 

Mitchell,  William,  associate 
of  Reeves,  136,  138,  116: 
trial   of,    144 

Montana,  originally  a  part  of 
Idaho,  20 

Monthe,  Jake,  113 

Moody,  Milton  S.,.  279,  282- 
285 

Moore,  Augustus,  131,  135- 
139,  141,  163,  164,  176- 
178,  219;  trial  of,   144-147 

Moore,  Captain,  244-248 

Moore,  Gad,  of  Pluniiner's 
band,    315 

Mormons,  258-265;  fort  of, 
at  Lemhi,  113,  118 

Mose,  of  the  early  ponv  ex- 
press, 29,  30 

Mucliaeho,   435 

Mullen,  Capt.  John,  122 

Munson.  Judge,  473 

Murieta,  Joaquin,  45 

Muri)hy,  — ,  48.';-488 


INDEX 


551 


Neselrode,  — ,  89 
New  York  Herald,  r>28 
Nez   Perccs   Indians,  26 
Xorthern     Overland    Expedi- 
tion, 1-22 
North-western  Fur  Co.,   118, 

Xorthwcstern   Railroad,  513 

O'Keefe,  Barney,  396 

"  Old  Tex,"  a  brother  of 
Boone  Helm,  84,  85 

"  Old  Tex,"  one  of  Pluni- 
mer's  band,  244,  245,  294, 
308,  391-393 

Oliver,  Dr.  A.   J.,  255,  256 

Opdyke,  David,  476-482;  ex- 
ecution of,  483,  484 

Oro  Fino,  20,  37,  66 

Overland  Stage  Co.,  441-443, 
484 

Page,    William,     319,    323- 

330,   343-348 
Palmer,  Dr.,  268,  270 
Palmer,    William,    289,    290, 

292 
Parish,  Frank,  one  of  Plum- 

mer's  band,  240,  242,  315. 

376;  execution  of,  384-387 
Parker,  — ,   521  ;   murder  of. 

522 
Parks,  — ,  murder  of,  477 
Parks,  Charley,  522 
Patterson,   Ferd,  91,  95-108; 

death  of,  108 
Patton,  W.   H.,  299 
Payne,  D.  S.,  225 


Peabody,   Ben,   351 

Peasley,   Thomas,  437,   438 

Peel,  Langford,  429-440 

Pemberton,  — ,   163 

Pemberton,  W.  Y.,  299 

People's   Court,  The,   457 

Peoples,  William,  45,  59,  60- 
62;  execution  of,  62,  63 

Percy,  — ,  234,  236-240,  24''2 

Perkins,  George,  151,  152 

Perkins,  Jeff,  131 

Pfouts,  P.   S.,  457 

Phillips,  William,  321;  mur- 
der of,  325 

Phleger,  Harry,  132,  133, 
149,  153,   171,  172 

Pike's  Peak  Gulch,   125,   129 

Pinkham,  — ,  91-95,  98;  mur- 
der of,  99-101  ;  results  of 
murder,    102-109 

Pizanthia,  Jo,  368-370 

Plummer,  Henry,  g^ig7j  37, 
48,  66-68,  130,  137,  138, 
148-162,  171-175,  186-188, 
913,  226,  242,  258,  261, 
266-272,  276,  315,  357, 
360,  361 ;  execution  of,  362- 
364;  life  of,  365-366 

Porter,  Deputy  Sheriff,  42, 
43 

Post,  Columbus,  115,  118 

Post,  Mark,   115 

Powell,  John  W.,  Ill;  letter 
of,  78-81 

Price,   Captain,   199 

Prickly  Pear  Valley,  123; 
Creek,   124 

Purple,  Edwin  R.,  365 


552 


INDEX 


QuiNN,  Lieut.,   199 

Ray,  Ned,  of  Plummer's 
band,  207,  251-256,  261, 
311,  315,  358,  361;  execu- 
tion of,  362-364 

Raymond,  Reuben,  481,  482; 
murder  of,  483 

Reeves,  Charley,  one  of 
Plummer's  band,  37,  66, 
132,  135-139,  141,  16:5, 
176;  trial   of,   144-147 

Reni,   Jules,   444-449 

Rheem,  Wm.  C,  144,  147, 
226;  quoted,  161,  162 

Richardson,  Edward,  real 
name  of  Charley  Forbes, 
216 

Ridgely,  of  Plummer's  band, 
37,  39,  40,  43,  44,  66 

Ritchie,  — ,  298 

Robbins,  — ,  a  friend  of 
Pinkham,  102,  103,  106 

Robinson,  — ,  430,  431 

Rockfellow,  John  S.,  279, 
283 

Romaine,  Jim,  318-330,  342- 
347;   execution   of,   348 

Rucker,  — ,  429,  432,  433 

Ruckles,  Capt.,  338 

Rumsey,  William,  234,  236- 
239,  241,  421,  423 

Russell,  Capt.  Jack,  115-120, 
176-178 

Rutar,  Dr.,  212 

Salmon  River,  29,  30;  dis- 
covery  of  gold    in,   45 


Sanders,  Col.  Wilbur  R.,  258, 

267-277,  299,  304 
Sapj),   Dick,    176-178 
Sarpie,  — ,  497 
Scott,   Bob,  455 
Scott,    Nelson,   45-47,   59-62; 

execution  of,  62,  63 
Shears,     George,     of     Plum- 
mer's  band,  315,  396;   ex- 
ecution of,  397 
"  Shebangs  "     of     Plummer's 

band  of  road  agents,  26,  27, 

28 
Shepard,  Johnny,   154 
Shoot,  Littlebury,  murder  of, 

75 
Short,  Mr.  and   Mrs.,   134 
Shoshone  Falls,  20 
Simmons,    Andrew    J.,     498; 

letter  of,  499-516 
Sioux  Indians,  122,  451,  519; 

attack  of,  506-511 
Six,  Dr.,  213 
Skinner,  Cyrus,  53,  134,  172, 

178,    207,    315,    395,    396; 

execution   of,  398  * 

Slade,    Joseph    A.,    441-460; 

execution  of,  460-462 
"  Slip})ery   Joe,"    190,   191 
Sloan.  William,  279,  281 
Smith,  Governor  Green  Clay, 

478,  490 
Smith.    H.    P.    A.,    115.    212, 

216,  298,  406 
Smith,  Joseph,  262 
Smith,      Judge,      of      Walla 

Walla,  61 
Snake    River,   rise  of,   19 


INDEX 


553 


Southmayd,  Lcroy.  S't'l-Sr)  K 
29;") 

Spillman,  C.  W.,   lit,   115 

Spivey,  Henry,  30t 

Stage' Coach/the,  517-521. 

Staples,  Capt.,  murder  of,  97 

Stapleton,  Washington,  115, 
207,  208 

Steele,  Dr.,  president  of  Al- 
der  Gulch,    209,    210,    212 

Stevens,  Governor  Isaac  I., 
123 

Stewart,  — ,  525,  529 

Stinson,  Buck,  180,  207,  208, 
210,  211,  216,  251-256, 
261,  311,  315,  358,  361  ; 
trial  of,  212-214;  execution 
of,  362-364;  life  of,  365 

Stuart,  Granville,  111,  114, 
119 

Stuart,  James,  111,  114,  119, 
541 

Talbert,  Henry,  real  name 
of  "  Cherokee  Bob,"  72 

Terry,  — ,  a  friend  of  Patter- 
son's, 99,  100,  102 

Terwiliger,  Billy,  of  Plum- 
mcr's  band,  160,  315 

Tetons,  the  three,  20 

Thomas,  Henry,  "  Tom  Gold 
Digger,"  112,  124 

Thompson,    Henry,    421-428 

Thurmond,  J.  M.,  299,  406 

Tiebalt,  Nicholas,  289;  mur- 
der of,  290-292,  294,  300 

Tilden,   Henry,  259,  275-277 

Tipton,  M.  W.,  396 


Todd,  — ,  deputy  of  Virginia 

City,  211,  216 
Tracy   &    Co.,    pony    express 

of,  29 
Trotter,  Charles,   532,   533 
Turner,     — ,     of     Plummer's 

band,   28 

Union,  Fort,  123,  512 
Union  League,  225 
Union  Pacific  Railroad,  518 
United       States       Geological 
Survey,  454 

V.\iL,  — ,  in  charge  of  Gov- 
ernment farm  on  Sun 
River,  67,  186 

Vigilantes,  of  Florence,  88, 
89;  first  real  activities  of, 
291 ;  organization  of  com- 
mittees, 309,  360,  367;  of 
Virginia  City,  374;  justi- 
fication of,  405,  406;  mis- 
takes of,  474,  475 ;  review 
of,  537 

Virginia  City,  founding  of, 
207;   growth  of,   222-224 

Vivion,  James,  352 

Wagner,  John,  real  name  of 

Dutch  John,  280 
Wall,  Capt.,  351 
Warner  Creek,  20 
West  Bannack,  66,  186 
White,    John,    119,    420-423; 

murder  of,  424 
White   Bird  Creek,  30,   56 
Whitehead,  Charles,  259,  260 


554 


INDEX 


Wilkinson,   — ,   234,   236-240 
Williams,   Charles,   470 
Williams,    Frank,   523 
Williams,  "  Jake}-,"  71,  72 
Willoughby,  Bill,  70-72 
Wilson,  Jack,  297 
Winnemuck,      chief      of      the 

Bannack  Indians,  178-180 
Wohlgamuth,  — ,  534 
Wolf  Rapid,  497 
Woodmansee,  — ,   120 
Woods,  Governor,  407 
Wright,  Gen.,  commander  of 

the      Department     of     the 

Pacific,  343 


Wyoming,  originally  a  part 
of  Idaho,  20 

Yager,  Erastus,  "  Red," 
269-274,  310-316;  execu- 
tion of,  317 

Yankton,  capital  of  Dakota, 
225 

Yellowstone  River,  19;  Na- 
tional Park,  19;  travel  on 
the   river,    492-515 

Young,  Brigham,  262,  263 

Zachary,  Bob,  of  Plummer's 
band,  235,  240,  245-249, 
294,  315,  319,  896.  398 


«c- 


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